Taranaki 28 Auckland 12
Taranaki turned a tight contest into a comfortable victory, scoring four tries to beat Auckland 28-12 at Stadium Taranaki.
The Bulls made the perfect start when JJ Pokai crossed in the 21st minute, finishing off an early period of pressure.
Auckland hit back almost immediately. Randall Baker crossed in the 32nd minute. Pokai then added his second for the Bulls five minutes later, giving the Bulls a 14-7 advantage at the break.
The second half was a different story. Payton Spencer scored for Auckland 15 minutes into the second stanza, but Alex Harford missed the conversion, hooking it left. Auckland were within two points.
On the hour mark Scott Jury scored Taranaki’s third try, a beautiful solo try. Sam Clarke converted. 21-12. Auckland could not find another way through the Taranaki defence, while the hosts continued to threaten. Kini Naholo put the result beyond doubt with a late try in the 77th minute. Jamie Viljoen converted Naholo’s effort to complete a 28-12 victory.
Hawke’s Bay 35 Otago 24
Otago’s four first half tries set the scene for an astounding Magpies comeback – their sixth straight win of the season.
Otago dominated the opening stages. Lucas Casey crossed after six minutes before Jae Broomfield added another in the 14th minute.
Hawke’s Bay responded through Folau Fakatava, but Otago continued to find gaps. Casey grabbed his second in the 24th minute, before Henry Bell crossed four minutes later.
The Magpies needed a response and got one just before halftime, with Harry Godfrey converting a Kianu Kereru-Symes try to reduce the deficit to 10 points.
It was all Hawke’s Bay in the second half though, firstly through Cooper Flanders then Bailyn Sullivan added a try in the 71st minute, making the score 28-24 to the Magpies.
Godfrey then took matters into his own hands, scoring and converting to give the black and white an unassailable 11-point lead, and another five points on the ladder.
Bay of Plenty 12 Manawatū 29
Manawatū roared into life in a superb second-half comeback to beat Bay of Plenty 29-12 in Tauranga, earning their first away win there since 2021.
Bay of Plenty controlled the opening half and were rewarded after six minutes when Regan Ware crossed to give the Steamers a 5-0 lead.
The home side continued to apply pressure and extended their advantage through Tevita Mafileo, who crossed in the 38th minute. Jason Robertson converted just before halftime to give Bay of Plenty a 12-0 lead.
Manawatū needed a response and found it immediately after the interval. Mosese Bason crossed in the 50th minute, before Joe Gavigan notched on the hour mark, turning the game around in spectacular fashion.
The Turbos then moved in front when Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou crossed in the 67th minute, completing another sustained attacking spell.
Rory Woods added the decisive try six minutes later after a series of passes opened a gap in the Steamers defence. Reece MacDonald converted Woods’ effort and added a penalty in the final minute to complete a 29-12 win.
The five-try comeback was Manawatū’s first away victory in four years.
Tasman 42 Wellington 28
Tasman overcame a spirited Wellington challenge with a five-try second half, beating the Lions 42-28 in Blenheim.
The Mako made a fast start, with David Havili crossing and William Havili converting in the opening nine minutes. Wellington responded with two tries in quick succession. Divad Palu crossed in the 18th minute before Dominic Ropeti put the Lions ahead five minutes later. Wellington went into the break 7-14 up.
The second half belonged to Tasman though. Eli Oudenryn was the first to score, before Johnny Lee grabbed a try six minutes later. Macca Springer and Maloni Kunawave were the next two under the posts for Tasman, with Wellington reeling.
Du’Plessis Kirifi and Logan Henry crossed late, with Henry’s try coming after a sweeping passing movement. Kyren Taumoefolau rounded out a glorious evening for the Mako, adding to his season tally.
Tasman secured a 42-28 victory after scoring six tries to Wellington’s four.
Waikato 14 Canterbury 36
Canterbury got back on the horse this week after losing to Taranaki in the previous round, beating Waikato 36-14 in Hamilton.
The visitors struck almost immediately. Dallas McLeod crossed after just two minutes to give Canterbury a 5-0 lead.
Waikato responded through Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia, who crossed in the seventh minute, levelling the scores, with D’Angelo Leuila adding the extras.
Canterbury hit back through Finn McLeod, scoring in the 30th minute, giving Canterbury a 12-7 halftime lead.
Dallas McLeod grabbed his second a few minutes into the half, but Austin Anderson brought the home side back to within seven, scoring to make it 14-19.
But Canterbury finished strongly. Knewstubb kicked a penalty before Finn McLeod grabbed his second of the evening. Knewstubb grabbed one of his own in the 77th minute to round out the match.
Canterbury scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to turn a tight contest into a 36-14 victory.
Counties Manukau 47 Southland 24
Counties Manukau grabbed their second win in as many weeks, overcoming an early Southland strike to score seven tries and win 47-24 in Pukekohe.
Southland made the perfect start when Hayata Taniyama crossed in the fifth minute after Jimmy Taylor created the opening with a strong break.
Counties hit back through Veikoso Poloniati, who crossed in the 29th minute after Sione Molia breached the Southland defence.
Adam Morrison then put the Steelers ahead three minutes later before Ian West-Stevens crossed in the 34th minute as Counties built a 19-5 halftime lead.
Southland fought back after the break. Withy crossed in the 43rd minute before Konrad Toleafoa added to Southland’s revival, reducing the deficit to two.
Counties responded immediately. Poloniati grabbed his second in the 56th minute before replacement winger Lindenmuth crossed six minutes later.
Sione Takai then put the result beyond doubt, scoring in the 68th minute, pushing the score out to 40-17.
Southland’s final response came through Harvey in the 71st minute, but Counties had the final say. Gibson Popoali’i picked up from the base of a ruck and crossed in the 80th minute. Rainsford converted to complete a 47-24 victory.
North Harbour 57 Northland 42
North Harbour and Northland produced one of the most entertaining games of the round, scoring 15 tries in a 99-point thriller at North Harbour Stadium.
The hosts made the perfect start. Leka Tu’ungafasi crossed after four minutes before Northland’s James Ramm grabbed his first try of the season.
But Cam Howell continued to dominate, scoring the first of three unanswered tries in the first half. Tristyn Cook grabbed the second and Rory Taylor the third, and the hosts moved 28-7 ahead.
Northland responded through Terrell Peita, but Harbour wasn’t done in the first half. Tom Barham and Kade Banks both crossed before Bryn Gordon also heaved over, seeing Harbour grab seven tries total in the first half. The score at half time was 47-14.
Howell grabbed a penalty goal shortly after the break, but Northland found some momentum of their own through Heremaia Murray scoring and then Jordan Hutchings.
But Harbour responded through Coby Miln, pushing the score out to 57-28. Jordan Trainor added another try for Northland two minutes later, and Sam Nock finished a wonderful passing movement three minutes later. Reihana converted Nock’s try, but North Harbour had already built an unassailable lead.