Wellington 7 North Harbour 47
Wellington kept it tight until half time against a slick North Harbour side, who eventually ran away with a big win against the Lions, 47-7 at Hnry Stadium.
The visitors struck early, utilising speed and attacking width to put Wellington under the pump. Debutant Israel Leota notched the first try from a well-worked attacking movement, before Cam Howell took it upon himself to add the second.
Callum Harkin kept the Lions close near half time with his own try and conversion, but the dam broke in the 52nd minute. Harbour added further tries through a mixture of direct carries, quick ball and broken-field running, with their outside backs repeatedly exploiting gaps as Wellington struggled to contain the attack. Leota grabbed his second. George Reeves, Coby Miln (2), and Jed Melvin all broke through to score for Harbour, blowing out the scoreline to a huge 40-point win.
Northland 42 Taranaki 0
Northland recorded the best winning margin of round three, putting Taranaki to the sword in a 42-0 result in Whangārei.
The Kauri established control from the outset, with their forwards providing a platform for repeated attacks inside the Taranaki 22. Lachie Hooper’s first of three first half tries coming after sustained pressure, before the second came as support play overwhelmed the visitors. Hooper’s third try created space through the backs, giving the home side a substantial halftime advantage.
James Mullan scored after the break after a period of pressure close to the line. The Kauri then stretched the defence again with their running game, scoring their fifth via Rivez Reihana before completing the rout with a sixth, this time from Grady Forbes.
Canterbury 33 Bay of Plenty 28
Bay of Plenty nearly thwarted Canterbury’s perfect start to the season in a hard-fought 33-28 scoreline in the red and black’s first successful Ranfurly Shield defence.
Two tries to Dallas McLeod, plus one to Jone Rova almost saw the home side into the sheds 21-0 up, but Benet Kumeroa had other ideas, crashing over the whitewash five minutes after the siren had sounded.
Canterbury's attack continued to threaten after halftime. Their forwards established a strong attacking platform and eventually created the space for a Ngane Punivai try, while Bay of Plenty refused to disappear and responded with a Lucas Cashmore try.
Kumeroa was in again with 25 minutes to play, before Reon Paul levelled the scores at 28-all with 18 minutes on the clock. The decisive moment came late when Canterbury worked their way towards the line through several phases. Substitute Toby Bell was the beneficiary of a beautiful pop pass against the grain, Bell running in for the easiest of tries. Bay of Plenty pushed hard in response, but Canterbury held on for a five-point victory.
Auckland 31 Hawke's Bay 44
Seventy-five points were scored as Eden Park witnessed Hawke's Bay overcoming Auckland 44-31.
The Magpies shot out to a 12-point lead after Zarn Sullivan and then Cooper Flanders scored early tries, attacking with pace and finding space in the Auckland defensive line for their opening tries. Auckland responded by increasing their attacking tempo and eventually crossed themselves through Xavier Taele. Hawke's Bay's forwards then regained momentum, and Kianu Kereru-Symes crashed over, extending their lead.
Auckland continued to threaten through their outside backs and Harlyn Saunoa added another try, and Taele completed the comeback for the sides to go to the sheds level.
The second half developed into an entertaining exchange of tries. Stephen Perofeta’s two tries and conversions were mirrored by opposite number Harry Godfrey’s try, two penalties and three conversions. The home side kept fighting, but Hawke's Bay's ability to turn possession into points proved decisive. Flanders notched a second try, as did Sullivan, keeping Auckland at arm's length and securing a 13-point victory. The result extended Hawke's Bay's unbeaten start and sent them to the top of the early competition standings.
Manawatu 27 Otago 29
Otago edged Manawatu 29-27 in a thriller at Central Energy Trust Arena, surviving a late fightback from the home side.
Manawatū first five eighth George Worboys is new to the Hilux NPC, but you wouldn’t know that just by looking at this match. Worboys grabbed the game’s first try and conversion, and a total of 12 points in the first 40 minutes via another conversion (for a John Tapueluelu try) and a penalty. Otago grabbed a try of their own through the forwards providing the foundation for the backs to break through and Sam Nemec-Vial scoring after sustained pressure.
After halftime, Manawatū found another attacking opportunity and Taniela Filimone crossed, with Worboys adding the extras, to extend their lead. But when Otago’s replacement hooker Henry Bell dove over, and after another Worboys penalty, the blue and gold were 15 points down with 17 minutes to play. Kieran McClea broke through to finish an attacking move and gave the visitors a sniff with eight minutes left. Lucas Casey reduced the deficit to three with his 76th minute try, a looping cut out pass found its mark and he dove over. A clever chip landed in Jona Nareki’s grateful arms, and he tore away towards the Manawatū 22 line. A few phases later, under penalty advantage, Nareki found a wide open Nemec-Vial on the wing to cross for the match-winning try.
Southland 32 Waikato 31
Southland produced another dramatic finish, edging Waikato 32-31 in a thriller at Rugby Park.
Waikato made the better start when Austin Anderson benefitted from a Taha Kemara magic moment – chipping and chasing in midfield and finding a support pass deep inside Southland’s 22. The Stags nabbed a penalty goal before a slip pass to Mitch Dunshea from scrum half Nic Shearer put the big lock over the line, the Stags taking a three-point lead into halftime.
After halftime, Waikato opened the scoring through a Kemara interception on their own goal line, finding Waisake Salabiau to score against the run of play. Paula Latu responded, diving over from close range after the platform had been set by Jack Sexton. The Mooloos retook the lead off the back of a lineout drive from Sean Ralph. Then Latu was awarded his second, pushing over a metre out from the line. Waikato weren’t done though, and Jahrome Brown crashed over after a pop pass left him with 10 metres to drive over. The Stags knocked over a penalty goal on the 22, reducing the deficit to one. Waikato scored with two and a half minutes left, through a bustling Oli Mathis, but Kemara missed the conversion, leaving the door ajar. A Stags lineout drive on the line gave Augustino Salanoa his career first try and full back Jimmy Taylor the heroic task of kicking the match-winning conversion from the touchline.
Counties Manukau 35 Tasman 50
The highest-scoring match of the round saw Tasman notch 50 against Counties Manukau at Navigation Homes Stadium.
Home side the Steelers scored twice in the first half, through Cameron Church and winger Tuna Tuitama, with the Mako grabbing three Kyren Taumoefolau scores. The pick of the first half tries was Taumoefolau’s first, ghosting down the right – spinning out of two tackles to dot down near the corner flag.
The second half became an attacking shootout. Counties scored several tries to remain within striking distance, but every time the home side appeared capable of mounting a comeback, Tasman found another attacking response.
Richie Asiata dover over near the corner after phases piled up on the Counties line. Then Taumoefolau added a fourth via a clever chip and chase he regathered. The 23-year-old grabbed a fifth try with a pinpoint David Havili cut out pass granting him the easiest of the five tries. Counties fought back through Moane Ioananu pushing over from a metre out. Tasman weren’t done though, Timoci Sauira slipped five would-be tacklers on his way to the try line. Counties winger Josh Gray then intercepted on the halfway line and sprinted away to dot down, giving the home side something to cheer about. Adam Morrison grabbed one of his own after selling the dummy 30 metres out from the line and running in untouched. Tasman grabbed one final penalty goal, closing out the match 15-point winners.