In the Premiership, the JJ Stewart Memorial Trophy changed hands again. Waikato and Canterbury were convincing winners.
Counties Manukau: 35 (Yurina Shinno 2, Sariyah Paitai 2, Vineta Teutau, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu tries; Hazel Tubic con pen) Auckland: 20 (Angelica Mekemeke Vahai 3, France Bloomfield) HT: 22-15
Counties Manukau have started an FPC season with five consecutive wins for the first time and have been additionally rewarded by capturing the JJ Stewart Memorial Trophy for the first time since 2017.
The Heat was cold early conceding a calamitous try when an ambitious Hazel Tubic cross-kick eluded an injured Kataraina Enosa-Taifau and instead fell to Auckland winger Angelica Mekemeke Vahai.
A blistering break by Counties fullback Jaymie Kolose where she fended off three players and burst 60 metres should have been a try but for a miracle intervention by halfback France Bloomfield.
From the scrum Braxton Sorenson-McGee slipped over and her defensive clearance dribbled straight to centre Yurina Shinno who couldn’t believe her luck.
Enosa-Taifau returned to the field and was in demolishing form setting up a second for Shinno and the first of two tries for eye-catching right winger Sariyah Paitai. Paitai is a product of Wesley College and was in the New Zealand Under 18 Barbarians last year.
The first half was clumsy and breathtaking at the same time. In the 24th minute an, apparently wasteful kick by Gillian Fa'aumu was collected by Eloise Blackwell who supplied Sorenson-McGee who fired a right-arm chest pass to Mekemeke Vahai.
Sheets of rain tumbled down at Eden Park in the second half, making handling more challenging. Auckland enjoyed the vast majority of possession as Counties struggled with discipline and lost a player to the sinbin. Bloomfield was lively and prop Cheyenne Tuli-Fale and blindside flanker Elizabeth Moimoi were productive.
However, Counties determination was palpable. A muscular Vineta Teutau try in the 70th minute was Counties first trip inside the 22 in the second half. Combined the Heat reserves made a staggering 64 tackles. Former Black Ferns captain Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu was influential with some astute tactical kicking and a try from a combined Kolose, Mele Latu'ila break.
Marino-Tauhinu and Hazel Tubic played for Counties when they beat Auckland 36-12 in 2017 to last win the JJ Stewart Trophy. Marino-Tauhinu scored a try in that game too, and Tubic scored 16 points. Another former Black Fern Lanulangi Veainu scored a double as well.
Canterbury: 24 (Winnie Palamo 2, Fia Laikong, Emma Dermody tries; Te Rauoriwa Harding) Northland: 0 HT: 19-0
Northland will be demoted to the championship in 2025 after suffering a fifth consecutive defeat. Canterbury secured a crucial four-try bonus point in their quest to remain in Premiership semi-final contention.
The scoreline flattered the victors with Northland fiercely brave in the second half but lacking the ideas and accuracy to breach the visitors' watertight defense.
Canterbury resisted wave after wave of attack with some huge tackle numbers being posted. Hooker Nicole Purdom topped the count with 25 and loosehead prop Jaidyn Busch made an unusually high 15. Canterbury loose forwards Laura Bayfield (17) and Neve Anglesey (14) were effective and even Abigail Paton was forced to make a dozen tackles as Northland’s bigger forwards targeted the diminutive halfback.
Second-Five Stacey Tupe was lively for Northland and loose forwards Krystal Murray and Lily Murray-Wihongi were never far from the action.
Canterbury first-five Te Rauoriwa Harding relieved much pressure with her boot and made excellent decisions on attack. A clinical try to Winnie Palamo was scored after the siren.
Canterbury started strongly with Hurricanes Poua centre and Canterbury FPC Development Player of the Year Fia Laikong continuing her growth.
Wellington: 51 (Keira Sa’a-Smith 2, Harmony Kautai 2, Drenna Fakaniko, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Lavinia Lea, Monica Tagoai, Ivana Samani tries; Arene Landon-Lane 3 con) Otago: 13 (Jamie Church, Naomi Sopoaga tries; Georgia Cormick pen) HT: 22-3
Wellington produced their best performance of the season at Forsyth Barr Stadium host Otago in a championship semi-final next weekend after their biggest victory against the Spirit since 2018.
Wellington took just two minutes to open the scoring. They swung it right from a scrum close to the line and winger Drenna Fakaniko was on the end of the chain and went over in the corner.
Veteran lock Joanah Ngan-Woo celebrated her 100th first-class game with a try, nine tackles, and vintage lineout and carry efficiency. Openside Sinead To'oala-Ryder (14 tackles) was another who carried with gusto.
Otago’s midfield backs Te Atawhai Campbell and Keely Hill were both replaced because of injuries and that further challenged the defense which was scrambling to contain the Pride’s outside backs.
Black Ferns second-five Monica Tagoai saw plenty of ball. First five-eighth Arene Landon-Lane comes from a softball background. Harmony Kautai is developing into a winger of real promise and Petone fullback Keira Su’a-Smith was illusive.
Otago first five-eighth Sheree Hume and tackling machine Bella Rewiri-Wharerau were Otago’s best.
Tasman: 39 (Michelle Curry 2, Iva Sauira, Ashleigh Wood, Fiaalii Solomona, Mary Kanace, Keeley-Mae Ridley tries; Wood 2 con) Taranaki: 36 (Hayley Gabriel 2, Shaniqka Wall, Briana Poingdestre, Ashley Rupapera, Brooke Neilson tries; Laura Claridge 2 con, Portia Huffam con) HT: 5-19
A genuine classic where Taranaki achieved their highest FPC score but fell short of Tasman who were irresistible after halftime scoring 34 points in 30 minutes.
Down 19-5 at the break dynamic winger Michelle Curry, who set up the opening try for Ashleigh Wood, channelled the spirit of Portia Woodman-Wickliffe bursting from halfway to score the first of her two tries.
Curry gained a staggering 250 metres and assisted in two further tries as she was easily the hottest commodity on the field.
Earlier Taranaki produced their best half of the season with loose forwards Hayley Gabrel (20 tackles) and Briana Poingdestre (17 tackles, 121 metres gained) inspirational. First-Five Laura Claridge played with confidence and flair.
Tasman became more urgent and precise at the breakdown and looked to involve Curry as often as possible. Tasman’s bench surged and when Keeley-Mae Ridley dashed free with nine minutes remaining it appeared the Whio had completely imploded.
Instead, the visitors kept the ball in tight and used their industrious forwards to starve Tasman of possession. Tasman’s defense was surprisingly fragile and three quick tries earned Taranaki their first championship points of the season with two richly deserved bonus points.
No.8 Jess Harvie and lock Grace Guyton topped the Tasman tackle count with 17 each.
Manawatū: 31 (Jayme Nuku 3, Rangimarie Sturmey, Wikitoria Doyle tries; Selica Winiata 3 con) North Harbour: 0 HT: 19-0
For the second consecutive season, Manawatū swept through the championship round-robin unbeaten foiling North Harbour 31-0 at a gusty Arena Manawatū in Palmerston North.
The Hibiscus scrummaged powerfully and could count on their lineout in the first half as they enjoyed sustained periods in possession.
The hosts defense was composed and aggressive and when the Cyclones had the ball points flowed quickly.
The scrum battled flipped in the second half and Manawatū scored another two tries as they never looked likely to lose.
Taufa Bason (18 tackles), Kahurangi Sturmey (14 tackles), and the bustling Jayme Nuku (13 tackles) led the Cyclones defensive industry. Nuku and Elinor-Plum King were metre eaters with the ball in hand and centre Hollyrae Mete had another productive outing.
For North Harbour, centre Moana Courtenay-Malupo was the most penetrating back. No.8 Barbra Auva'a was a handful and Izzy East made 24 tackles.
Waikato: 44 (Chyann Kaitapu, Veisinia Fakalelu, Kiriana Nolan 2, Lela Ieremia 2, Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Rina Paraone tries; Chelsea Semple 2 con) Hawke’s Bay: 12 (Denise Aiolupotea, Maleta Pailate; Krysten Cottrell con) HT: 29-7
Waikato counited their resurgence with a comprehensive victory over Hawke’s Bay at the Marist rugby club, home of Waikato’s senior men’s champions.
There was nothing subtle about Waikato’s approach in the opening quarter, the Tui struggling to contain the hosts' power with both props Chyann Kaitapu, and Veisinia Fakalelu (14 tackles) scoring tries.
Despite a yellow card for repeated team infringements first five-eighth Kiriana Nolan was outstanding scoring two tries and assisting in two others. Chelsea Semple produced another strong shift and Mia Anderson was busy and topped the tackle count with 16.
Blindside flanker Olioli Mua (12 tackles) and halfback Kahlia Awa were among the best for the Tui who must win against Auckland next week to keep their semi-final chances alive.
Waikato has their second challenge at the JJ Stewart Memorial Trophy against Counties Manukau.