Adam Julian and Steven White wrap the Round Four action.
Northland Kauri: 39 (Penalty Try, Krystal Murray, Trish Vaka, Nora Maaka 2, Te Ruawai Herbert-Brown, Hazel Stolz, Tyler Nankivell con) North Harbour: 22 (Georgia Brierly, Ellie Harrison, Holly Williams, Katelyn Hilton tries; Ella Enderson con). HT: 17-17
Northland rallied from a 17-0 deficit to defeat North Harbour in Albany. Ultimately, Northland’s dominant scrum and lineout were key to their victory. A penalty try awarded to Northland came from a North Harbour scrum that buckled and retreated five meters, providing the visitors with their first try. Former Black Ferns prop Krystal Murray then surged 30 meters, linking with halfback Holli O'Sullivan before receiving the ball back and dashing another 15 meters to score in a classic play. Northland was level by halftime when hooker Trish Vaka, a former professional boxer, scored from a textbook lineout move known as “Willie Away,” named after former All Blacks captain Sir Wilson Whineray.
In the second half, North Harbour struggled to stop the Kauri momentum. Openside Nora Maaka, a primary school teacher who overcame a serious knee injury to play for the Kiwi Ferns, had a standout performance with 13 tackles and two tries. Te Ruawai Herbert-Brown provided a huge impact off the bench.
Earlier in the match, North Harbour was on fire with their expansive approach and slick handling, running Northland off their feet. Former Northland player Georgia Brierly scored the first try, followed by Ellie Harrison, an 18-year-old prefect at Owera College, who slipped through for another try. When North Harbour scored a third try, an upset seemed possible, but unfortunately, they were unable to maintain their momentum. The North Harbour loose forwards - Danielle Hilton, Mari-Lyn Connelley, and Madisson Mata‘afā -combined for a mammoth total of 50 tackles.
Manawatū Cyclones: 22 (Prayer Playle, Wikitoria Doyle, Rangimarie Sturmey, Ngano Tavake; Selica Winiata con) Auckland Storm: 21 (Taufa Bason, Elizabeth Moimoi, Emacyn Ieremia tries; Daynah Nankivell 3 cons) HT: 5-14
Manawatū secured their first victory over Auckland since 2018 with a come-from-behind win in Palmerston North.
The visitors started explosively, with loose forwards Tafua Bason and Elizabeth Moimoi both scoring tries. Bason’s try was particularly eye-catching, as she bounced off more defenders than a pinball in a slot machine.
The game shifted at the 30-minute mark when Manawatū's strong defence led to a turnover. A quick tap from the penalty by Hurricanes Poua halfback Paige Lush, in her 31st game for the Cyclones, set Prayer Playle of Manukura free for a try in the corner. After the break, Wikitoria Doyle scored her 12th try in 11 games for Manawatū.
However, Manawatū struggled with discipline and lost a player to the sin bin in the 56th minute, allowing Emacyn Ieremia from Epsom Girls Grammar School to score for Auckland. Rangimarie Sturmey then narrowed the gap to 21-17 with an epic 40-meter runaway try. Soon after, Auckland lost a player to a yellow card, and Ngano Tavake, in her 35th game, scored a try that put Manawatū ahead.
Manawatū displayed tenacity and resilience on defence, holding on for a famous victory. No. 8 Kahurangi Sturmey was immense while lock Sam Taylor was industrious.
Otago Spirit: 48 (Charlotte Va'afusaga, Sarah Jones 2, Hannah Norris, Namoi Sopoaga, Jamie Church, Abigail Paton, Greer Muir tries; Paton 3 cons, Jones con) Tasman Mako: 15 (Jett Hayward, Kim Lammers tries; Bethan Manners pen con) HT: 17-15
The Spirit remained unbeaten in the championship, overcoming a lacklustre first half to conquer Tasman. Otago scored four tries in an exhilarating 20-minute burst after halftime.
Greer Muir, in her 74th game for Otago, was in vintage touch with 14 tackles, three line breaks, and a remarkable 60-meter try where she collected an offload, chipped ahead, and beat the retreating defence. Fellow loose forward Sarah Jones was similarly imposing, having played fullback for Tasman in 2024.
Tasman had come within a converted try of Otago in their last two matches, but they were unable to contain the vibrant midfield of Naomi Sopoaga and Charlotte Va’afusuaga and lacked the fitness of the hosts, who shifted quickly at every opportunity. Hooker Jett Hayward had another productive performance for Tasman, contributing eight tackles and a try, while openside Luisa Tafia made 14 tackles.
Before the match in Nelson, players and spectators observed a moment of silence to honour the passing of former Māori All Black, Highlanders, and Tasman Mako loose forward Shane Christie.
Counties Manukau Heat: 65 (Shyanne Thompson 3, Lana Samuelu 2, Mererangi Paul, Tara Turner, Sina Tainefu, Fou Sefo, Mele Latu’ila, Teuila Sotutu tries; Hazel Tubic 3, Abbey Lockhart con) Hawke’s Bay Tui: 14 (Briar Hales, Maleta Pailate tries; L Hakiwai 2 con). HT: 27-14
The Counties Manukau Heat flexed their muscle from the start of their match at home in Pukekohe, and despite a gritty first-half fightback from the visitors, they were always in control.
The Heat powered over for the game’s opening try to prop Esther Afoa-Tilo and added more in the next 20 minutes to Mererangi Paul, Shyanne Thompson and Fou Sefo. Hawke’s Bay rallied and finished the first half with two converted tries, including a solo try to halfback Briar Hales, who scuttled through traffic after a back-peddling scrum. The Hawke's Bay Tui’s cause also wasn’t helped with the first-half sin-binning of first-five Hinemoa Hubbard.
The Heat stepped it up in the second half with their forwards establishing dominance for their backs and replacements off the bench to shine, and the result was them scoring another six unanswered tries. Right-wing Thompson scored the final try of the afternoon to complete a well-deserved hat-trick. In 36 games for the Heat, Thompson has scored 15 tries. In 2024, Counties narrowly won this fixture 36-32.
Wellington Pride: 76 (Keiana Roffey 3, Vailani Vaka 2, Harmony Kautai 2, Ivana Samani, Isadora Laupola, Jackie Patea-Fereti, Keira Su’a-Smith, Lesieli Tuangalu tries; Arene Landon-Lane 8 con) Taranaki Whio: 0. HT: 47-0.
As far as one-sided first halves of rugby go, this was as clinical as they come. The Wellington Pride had their four-try bonus point after 20 minutes and didn’t let up in the Porirua Park rain. They scored seven first-half tries, and first-five Arene Landon-Lane kicked six conversions.
First half scoring highlights included captain and starting hooker Vailani Vaka scoring two tries in quick succession and wing Harmony Kautai also scoring twice. Taranaki Whio conceded 12 first-half penalties and couldn’t get a look in.
Pride fullback Keira Su’a Smith scored early after the break to reach the half-century. Vaka left the field and was replaced by Keiana Roffey, who scored two similar tries from forward drives, then was on hand to complete her hat-trick and the fifth try of the day by a Wellington hooker.
Taranaki managed to get back into the game and stem the scoring, with No. 8 Briana Poingdestre (17 tackles, 43 metres gained) leading their efforts. But Wellington had the last say when replacement forward Lesieli Tuangalu scored with a couple of minutes to play on her debut.
Waikato: 28 (Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Toka Natua, Leata Puni-Lio, Hinemaringi Scott tries; Kaea Nepia 4 con) Canterbury: 17 (Fia Laikong, Sophie Kerr, Lialanie Muamua tries; Hannah King con). HT 21-10.
Canterbury lost their unbeaten tag and were pulled back into the Premiership pack. Hoping to make it four straight wins heading into their bye, Canterbury failed to pick up any competition points from this one. In contrast, Waikato bagged maximum points and retained the JJ Stewart Trophy in front of a vocal home crowd in Hamilton.
In a high-intensity match befitting of a replay of last year’s FPC final, albeit minus current Black Ferns watching on the other side of the world, Waikato showed greater composure and won the big moments to keep themselves in front once they hit the lead after an early flurry of action.
A charge-down by Canterbury first five Hannah King helped set up the game’s opening try in just the third minute to left wing Fia Laikong.
Waikato hit straight back with a try to centre Hinemaringi Scott, converted by first five Kaea Nepia. This was followed by a second soon after to rampaging tighthead prop Toka Natua after a powerful surge off the back of a scrum by No. 8 Chyna Hohepa, and it was 12-5 after as many minutes.
Lock Leata Puni Lio crashed over from close range after 30 minutes as part of a cohesive forwards effort, and Nepia’s conversion made it 19-5. Canterbury closed to within 10 points just before the break with their second try to lock Sophie Kerr after a penalty and lineout close to the line.
Waikato then made a statement five minutes into the second half when hooker Grace Houpapa-Barrett stormed over to score under the sticks. With 30 tries, she is one short of the record held by Stacey Waaka. Canterbury dug deep and eventually scored again through replacement Lialanie Muamua.
Canterbury’s back row was tigerish, but the huge tackle counts from Fiaali'i Solomona (17), Lucy Jenkins (16) and Neve Anglesey (20) were unsustainable. Waikato openside Roelien du Plessis, a Girls Activator at Waikato Rugby, made 25 tackles. The Waikato forwards have found their feet, playing simple, direct, and effective rugby.
Waikato’s win was their biggest against Canterbury since a 32-23 success in 2014. Seven games in a row had been decided by a converted try or less. Since 2021, Waikato have won two Premierships and 22 out of 31 games.