Bay of Plenty Volcanix 21 Auckland Storm 62
Auckland Storm claimed a convincing victory as they locked in a finals berth against Bay of Plenty Volcanix in Eloise Blackwell’s 100th match for the club, on Saturday.
Auckland scored five tries in each half – Mikaya Tonga grabbed a hattrick, and Tafito Lafaele and Aldora Itunu bagged braces. Presayus Singh, Stephanie Kelleway and Danny-Elle Fesolai each scored too.
The Volcanix scored three tries of their own, including two to Te Urupounamu McGarvey and one to Dane-a Kopa, with three conversions made by Taylor Kingi.
Auckland’s Emacy Ieremia was on point with the boot too, grabbing five conversions, and Aleiyah Tuala grabbed the remaining two-pointer to seal the deal.
The result confirms Auckland’s finals spot with a game to spare in the regular season.
Counties Manukau Heat 0 Canterbury 46
Canterbury ran in eight tries while keeping Counties Manukau Heat scoreless as the red and blacks maintained their vice grip on the top of the Premiership ladder.
Tries to Holly Greenway (2), Grace Brooker, Lucy Jenkins, Paris Lokotui, Louise Blyde, Nicole Purdom and Binky Muamua ensured the away side left with all five points at Navigation Homes Stadium on Saturday.
Canterbury’s Kelsyn McCook converted two tries and Poppy Baxter one, meaning this weekend’s match against Waikato will decide who tops the table for the regular season.
Heat had reason to celebrate though, with two debutants entering the Farah Palmer Cup presented by Hilux for the first time. Levonah Motuliki started at second five eighth and Marica Tukana came off the bench, getting 20 minutes under her belt.
Manawatū Cyclones 13 Waitomo Waikato 24
A close-run first half saw just two points in a match that bloomed into life in the second, seeing Waitomo Waikato defeat a spirited Cyclones on Saturday.
The first stanza saw a try apiece, with Grace Houpapa Barrett scoring for the Mooloos, and Ariana Bayler converting. The Cyclones’ try scorer was Keighley Rein Araia, but the try went unconverted.
Manawatū scored a penalty goal and another try – to Lucy Brown – in the second half, but Waikato came back strongly.
Three tries in the second half was enough to seal the result and all five points for Waikato, teeing up a mouthwatering encounter with Canterbury in the final round of the regular season.
Those tries were scored by Chyann Kaitapu, Lela Ieremia and Regan Chapman – Chapman’s coming with just two minutes remaining.
Wellington Pride 42 Northland Kauri 19
An Ana Kerr hattrick propelled Wellington Pride to the top of the Championship table, as the winger was ably assisted by her teammates, who scored seven tries in total to see off a spirited Northland Kauri.
Kerr’s try scoring told only part of the story as Litia Bulicakau, Valini Vaka, Keira Su’a-Smith and Trilaine Raika-Suitauloa also scored to see the points went the way of the homes side at Hnry Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Kauri did their utmost to ruin the Pride’s day through tries to Elia Terai (2) and Tūī McGeorge, but the home side was too strong.
The boot of Merania Paraone added to the Pride’s scoreline, as she kicked two conversions and a penalty goal on the day.
The result means both sides are still in contention for the Championship title, and the Kauri versus Hawke’s Bay Tui match this weekend could be make or break for both.
North Harbour Hibiscus 19 Tasman 29
Tasman recorded their maiden victory of the season with a five star, five try performance against North Harbour Hibiscus.
Two tries each to playmaker Lucy Hall and winger Kim Lammers set the Mako up for success. Hall was making her Tasman debut on loan from Canterbury, and certainly made a statement in her first match.
Hall’s was one of four debuts for Tasman. Tanita Garnett, Tayla Richards, and Sophie Pemberton (off the bench) also played in their first match.
The Hibiscus kept in touch for the whole match, only dropping out of a bonus point contention in the final quarter.
North Harbour try scorers were Ema Lavemaau, Keira Labuschagne and Izzy East, with two conversions from Holly Williams.
Hawke’s Bay Tui 24 Otago Spirit 34
Otago Spirit sealed a finals berth, and in doing so closed the gap on Hawke’s Bay Tui in the race for the FPC Championship, presented by Hilux.
Spirit bagged six tries to Hawke’s Bay’s four, ensuring a maximum point haul at the Mitre 10 Sports Park on Sunday afternoon.
Otago’s try scorers were Tegan Willocks, Emily Dale, Naomi Sopoaga, Pip Eason, Charlotte Va’afusuaga and Madison Flutey, each scoring once. Sarah Jones bagged two conversions to add to the total.
In response, Tui’s scorers were Tori Iosefo, Georgie Beaufoy, Denise Aiolupotea and Maleta Pailate, with two conversions from Kristyn Cottrell.
The result tees up an interesting tie for Hawke’s Bay as they face off against Northland Kauri at Semenoff Stadium, who are still chasing the top spot on the final day.