Counties Manukau 21 Otago 50
Otago produced another powerful attacking display to beat Counties Manukau 50-21 at Navigation Homes Stadium, running in seven tries to three.
The visitors opened the scoring through Lucas Casey, who finished a powerful forward effort. Patrick Pellegrini converted before Counties hit back through Sione Molia, who crossed from close range. AJ Alatimu converted to level the scores.
Gibson Popoali’i then put Counties ahead after picking up from the base of a ruck. Alatimu converted, but Otago responded through Jona Nareki, who finished a flowing passing movement in the corner.
Ben Lopas put Otago back in front after Christian Lio-Willie made the initial break, with Pellegrini converting. Lio-Willie then added a try of his own after pouncing on a loose Counties pass, and Pellegrini converted to make it 14-26.
Otago continued their dominance after halftime. Oliver Haig finished a brilliant team move, with Pellegrini converting, before returning All Black Saula Ma’u powered over from close range. Pellegrini converted again.
Peniasi Malimali replied for Counties, charging down a kick and winning the race to the ball. Jackson Rainsford converted.
But the Counties comeback was short lived, as Slade McDowall marked his 50th appearance with Otago’s seventh try. Sam Nemec-Vial then intercepted late to bring up 50 points.
Tasman 22 Auckland 24
Auckland continued a late surge for the playoffs, edging Tasman by two points at Trafalgar Park in a match where the pendulum swung repeatedly.
Tasman made a flying start when Macca Springer crossed after just two minutes. Auckland answered through Harlyn Saunoa, with Alex Harford converting to put the visitors ahead 5-7.
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa then extended Auckland’s advantage after 24 minutes, with Harford converting again. The Mako bit back through Lopeti Faifua, before William Havili converted to make it 12-14 to the visitors.
Harford missed a penalty goal, before Havili knocked one over right on halftime, putting Tasman 15-14 ahead at the break.
Kyren Taumoefolau extended the Mako lead with 20 minutes left, finishing a dangerous attacking move. Havili converted to make it 22-14.
Auckland refused to let the game slip away though. Payton Spencer crossed in the 66th minute and Harford converted, bringing the visitors within a point.
Harford then completed the comeback with a 76th-minute penalty, giving Auckland a 24-22 lead which they held through the final minutes.
Bay of Plenty 32 Hawke's Bay 17
Bay of Plenty produced their best performance of the season to beat high-flying Hawke’s Bay 32-17 in the Battle of the Bay.
The Steamers opened the scoring after eight minutes when Tamiro Armstrong finished a slick attacking movement. Lucas Cashmore converted to make it 7-0.
Hawke’s Bay hit back through Folau Fakatava, who picked up from the base of a ruck to score.
Bay of Plenty regained control through Josh Bartlett, who finished from close range, although Godfrey could not add the conversion. Cashmore added a penalty goal to the mix on the stroke of half time, for the Steamers to go into the break 15-5 to the good.
The Steamers then strengthened their position through Sione Tupou, who was driven over by the maul. Cashmore converted.
Hawke’s Bay reduced the deficit after halftime when Tom Allen finished a penetrating attacking move. Godfrey converted to make it 22-12. Darby Lancaster added another try to the Magpies’ tally, but Godfrey missed the conversion, making it 22-17.
The Steamers then pulled away late, as Cashmore grabbed a penalty goal, before Cole Forbes raced onto a clever kick to score in the 70th minute, with Cashmore converting.
Waikato 36 Manawatū 27
Waikato came from behind at half time to beat Manawatū 36-27 at FMG Stadium Waikato, scoring five tries to the Turbos’ three.
The Mooloos struck first through Senita Lauaki, who scored from close range. Taha Kemara converted for a 7-0 lead.
Manawatū bit back through Hunter Kennedy after a flowing attacking movement, with George Worboys converting. Rory Woods then crossed from close range and Worboys converted again, for a 7-14 lead.
Waikato scored through Sean Ralph, who finished from a powerful maul. But Manawatū added another try through TK Howden just before halftime, with Worboys converting to make it 12-21 at the break.
Waikato then turned the game on its head after Worboys grabbed a penalty goal to extend Manawatū’s lead. Mitch Jacobson finished a slick passing movement and Kemara converted, before Kemara produced a brilliant individual try of his own. He added the conversion to put the Mooloos two points ahead.
Again Worboys came to the visitors’ rescue, adding a penalty to go ahead by a point, but the home side then moved ahead through a Kemara penalty, and a Hamilton Burr try, crashing over from close range. Kemara converted to complete the 36-27 victory.
Wellington 28 Northland 52
Northland struck the top of the table with a 52-28 win over Wellington at Hnry Stadium, overcoming an early challenge from the Lions before pulling away after halftime.
Wellington opened the scoring through Du’Plessis Kirifi, who finished a close-range attack. Callum Harkin converted. Northland responded through James Ramm, who broke through after a dangerous attacking movement. Reesjan Pasitoa converted to level the scores.
Kirifi crossed for his second after another flowing Wellington attack, with Harkin converting again. Northland then answered through Nathan Salmon, who scored from close range, but Pasitoa missed, seeing the Lions remain in front.
Reuben Stewart then crossed to put the Taniwha ahead, with Pasitoa converting to go 14-19 ahead at halftime.
Northland continued the onslaught after the break. Stewart grabbed his second, before Grady Forbes finished a slick passing movement. James Mullan scored a great solo try, with Pasitoa adding two of those conversions.
Matolu Petaia replied for Wellington, and Harkin converted, seeing the score at 21-38 with 15 minutes remaining, before Mullan grabbed a second try with 10 minutes on the clock.
James Ramm grabbed his second late, with Rivez Reihana converting, before Wellington scored Stanley Solomon in the final minutes. Harkin converted Solomon's try.
North Harbour 24 Canterbury 25
Canterbury held on for a thrilling one-point victory over North Harbour in Albany after the home side launched a late comeback.
George Bell opened the scoring for Canterbury after 21 minutes, before Kade Banks replied for Harbour. Cam Howell converted to put North Harbour 7-5 ahead.
Bell then grabbed his second before completing his hat-trick just before halftime. Neither try was converted, leaving Canterbury 7-15 ahead at the break.
Chay Fihaki extended Canterbury's lead after 46 minutes, although the conversion was unsuccessful.
North Harbour hit back through Sam Tuitupou, before Riley Tofilau crossed to reduce the deficit to three points, neither try was converted.
Fihaki then scored his second try in the 71st minute, again without a successful conversion, putting Canterbury 25-17 ahead.
Harbour refused to die quietly though. Tofilau crossed for his second in the final minutes, with Howell converting to bring North Harbour within one point.
The hosts had a chance to snatch victory but Canterbury held firm to secure a dramatic 25-24 win.
Taranaki 55 Southland 19
Taranaki added to their playoff hopes with an emphatic 55-19 scoreline against Southland after running in nine tries.
Meihana Grindlay opened the scoring after eight minutes following a series of passes, although Josh Jacomb missed the conversion. Southland responded through Jayden Henderson, who picked up from the base of a ruck to score. Jimmy Taylor converted to put the Stags two points ahead.
Taranaki hit back quickly through Willem Ratu, before Quintony Ngatai crossed from close range. Jacomb converted both.
Henderson grabbed his second for Southland with Taylor converting, but Taranaki finished the half strongly. Bradley Slater was driven over by the maul on the stroke of halftime, although the conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the Bulls 24-14 ahead.
Taranaki pulled away after the break. Jayden Sa scored from close range, before Kini Naholo crossed twice in quick succession. Jacomb converted Naholo's second.
Southland answered through Michael Manson, with Taylor's conversion attempt hitting the post and bouncing away.
Jesse Parete and JJ Pokai finished with late tries for Taranaki. Jacomb converted again to complete the 55-19 victory.