Bunnings NPC Round 10: Quarter-Finals confirmed as Canterbury take top spot

There was relief for North Harbour, who finally broke through for their first win of the campaign, while heartbreak followed for Southland in Albany. As the dust settles, the quarter-final picture is set: Canterbury host Counties Manukau, Otago meet Waikato, Bay of Plenty face Tasman, and Hawke’s Bay host Taranaki. Here's how the action unfolded across New Zealand for Round 10.

North Harbour finally found reward for a season of frustration, edging Southland 15-14 in wet, tense conditions. The visitors struck first through their trusty lineout drive, with lock Ale Aho crashing over after eight minutes. Hooker Nic Souchon doubled the advantage midway through the half from another maul to make it 14-7 at the break.

Harbour’s response came through persistence at close quarters, with flanker Jed Melvin burrowing over beside the posts, while first five Cam Howell’s conversion and second-half penalty brought the hosts within touching distance. Southland’s discipline wavered as prop Jack Sexton saw yellow, but Harbour couldn’t initially make the advantage count.

The decisive blow came six minutes from time when replacement Siaosi Nginingini finished off a sustained passage of continuity to edge his side in front. Southland had one last shot, but Michael Manson’s fumble of a greasy ball denied them a late winner.

North Harbour: 15
Tries: Melvin, Nginingini
Cons: Howell
Pens: Howell

Southland: 14
Tries: Aho, Souchon
Cons: Muliaina (2)

Auckland Grammar School, Auckland

Otago produced one of their most dominant performances of the campaign, dismantling Auckland 51-17 to seal a top-four finish. Nathan Hastie opened the scoring after a clean lineout drive and a strong Thomas Umaga-Jensen carry, before Auckland hit back through Cohen Norrie. But Otago’s accuracy and physicality proved decisive.

Umaga-Jensen powered over for the visitors’ second before Cameron Millar’s chargedown try extended the lead. A penalty try and a yellow card to Auckland prop Angus Ta’avao further punished the home side before halftime. Otago led 28-5 at the break and showed no signs of easing off.

Auckland’s Caleb Tangitau and Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo crossed late, but it was academic as Otago’s attacking rhythm — capped by tries to Samuel Nemec-Vial and A-One Lolofie — and Millar’s 19 points from the tee sealed a statement victory heading into finals.

Auckland: 17
Tries: Norrie, Tangitau, Hainsworth-Fa’aofo
Cons: Simpson

Otago: 51
Tries: Hastie, Umaga-Jensen, Millar, Nemec-Vial, Lolofie, Penalty Try
Cons: Millar (5)
Pens: Millar (3)

Sky Stadium, Wellington

Bay of Plenty produced a stirring comeback to stun Wellington 33-26 and book their quarterfinal berth. The hosts surged early, with Julian Savea, Sione Halalilo and Stanley Solomon all crossing in the opening half-hour to race out to a 21-0 lead.

But Charlie Sinton ignited the Steamers’ fightback before halftime, darting through from close range. Moments after the restart, he pounced on a Wellington error to score again and narrow the gap to 21-14. Fehi Fineanganofo’s finish from a clever lineout move then drew Bay level.

Momentum stayed with the visitors into the closing stages as Ngarohi McGarvey-Black and Reon Paul capitalised on quick recycling and width to seal the comeback. Solomon’s second try briefly lifted Wellington hopes, but Bay of Plenty’s accuracy and composure under pressure proved the difference.

Wellington: 26
Tries: Savea, Halalilo, Solomon (2)
Cons: Garden-Bachop (3)

Bay of Plenty: 33
Tries: Sinton (2), Fineanganofo, McGarvey-Black, Paul
Cons: Bardoul (4)

Waikato held firm to edge past a spirited Northland 25-19 in Hamilton. The visitors struck first through hooker Matt Moulds’ textbook rolling-maul try, before a slick combination between Corey Evans and Jordan Trainor set up No8 Terrell Peita for a second.

Waikato gradually settled into rhythm, with Oli Mathis and Malachi Wrampling-Alec crossing to hand them a narrow halftime lead. The second spell brought more momentum for the hosts as flanker Mitchell Jacobson created space for Waisake Salabiau to streak down the touchline for their third.

Northland, as ever, refused to fade — Trainor cutting back inside to level the score at 19-all after Peita’s burst. But discipline at the breakdown cost them late, and veteran Aaron Cruden coolly slotted two penalties to secure victory and a home quarterfinal berth for the Mooloos.

Waikato: 25
Tries: Mathis, Wrampling-Alec, Salabiau
Cons: Cruden (2)
Pens: Cruden (2)

Northland: 19
Tries: Moulds, Peita, Trainor
Cons: Stewart (2)

Hawke’s Bay finished their regular season with authority, sweeping aside Manawatū 38-10 in Palmerston North. The Magpies’ intent was clear from the opening minutes as crisp handling and timing sent Anaru Paenga-Morgan over. Neria Fomai doubled the lead soon after from a Folau Fakatava pass, before Zarn Sullivan crossed on halftime following relentless forward pressure.

Jacob Devery continued the dominance early in the second half, crashing over from close range before Manawatū briefly rallied through hooker Vernon Bason’s determined finish out wide. Any hint of a comeback was swiftly shut down as No8 Devan Flanders sprinted onto his own kick to score, and Fomai added his second late on to complete a polished team display.

The win ensured Hawke’s Bay enter the knockout stages in confident mood, their balance between structure and flair proving too much for the Turbos.

Manawatū: 10
Tries: Bason, Tofa

Hawke’s Bay: 38
Tries: Paenga-Morgan, Fomai (2), Sullivan, Devery, Flanders
Cons: McClutchie (4)

Counties Manukau secured a thrilling 49-41 win over Tasman to clinch their finals place in a try-fest at Trafalgar Park. The visitors burst out of the blocks with early scores to Keran van Staden and Cohen Brady-Leathem, before Adam Brash struck twice to establish a firm lead.

Tasman hit back through Cooper Roberts’ long-range intercept and Quinten Strange’s alertness to snaffle a loose goal-line pass, but Counties’ power runners and set-piece control kept the scoreboard ticking. Roberts’ second try briefly brought Tasman within a point, yet Brash completed his hat-trick moments later to wrestle back control.

Etene Nanai-Seturo’s electric brace — one from a deft chip-and-chase, another off a broken play — sealed the deal, despite late Tasman replies from Will Thornalley, Macca Springer and Tone Ng Shiu. A chaotic, high-octane finish to the regular season.

Tasman: 41
Tries: Roberts (2), Strange, Taumoefolau, Thornalley, Springer, Ng Shiu
Cons: W. Havili (3)

Counties Manukau: 49
Tries: Van Staden, Brady-Leathem, Brash (3), Nanai-Seturo (2)
Cons: Alatimu (4)
Pens: Alatimu (2)

Canterbury underlined their championship credentials with a clinical 34-14 dispatching of Taranaki in torrential conditions. Flanker Zach Gallagher was immense, completing a first-half hat-trick through sheer power and support play. Chay Fihaki’s early finish and an Andrew Knewstubb 50:22 set up dominance that never waned.

Taranaki’s lone bright spots came through Adam Lennox’s sharp first-half try and a second-half finish from flanker Arese Poliko, but Canterbury’s control at the breakdown and lineout made the difference. George Bell crossed soon after the restart, and replacement prop Daniel Lienert-Brown capped the night by diving over from close range.

It was a performance that reinforced Canterbury’s status as the team to beat — organised, ruthless, and peaking at the right time.

Canterbury: 34
Tries: Gallagher (3), Fihaki, Bell, Lienert-Brown
Cons: Fihaki (2)

Taranaki: 14
Tries: Lennox, Poliko
Cons: Jacomb (2)