Bunnings NPC: Round 9 - Canterbury slip-up against Northland to hand Otago late lifeline

Taranaki reinforced their credentials with a commanding second-half against Wellington, while Bay of Plenty tore into Waikato in Tauranga. Counties Manukau proved too sharp for Manawatū in Pukekohe, Hawke’s Bay ran away from Auckland in Napier, and Tasman’s strike power overcame Southland despite a Michael Manson hat-trick.

With the playoff picture congested from third to eighth, every point in Round 10 will be crucial. Canterbury host Taranaki in a heavyweight clash, while Otago take the Shield on the road to Auckland. The stage is set for a dramatic finish to the regular season in the 2025 Bunnings NPC.

Hawke’s Bay produced a dominant opening half to overpower Auckland, running in three tries before the break to seize control. Folau Fakatava’s speed and vision sparked their early momentum, first creating the opening score for Lincoln McClutchie before setting up Devan Flanders with a sniping pass from the base. Miracle Fai’ilagi finished a sweeping move soon after as the Magpies stormed 19–7 ahead.

Auckland showed flashes of resistance, with James Arscott’s clever kick-pass creating a try for Xavier Tito-Harris. But their defensive lapses were punished ruthlessly as Flanders scored his second before halftime. The second half saw Hawke’s Bay stretch further clear, Le Roux Malan bagging a brace and Lukas Ripley capping the scoring. Auckland did land three tries through Xavi Taele, Tanielu Tele’a and Soane Vikena, whose storming run secured a bonus point. But it was too little too late against a side playing with superior pace and precision.

Hawke’s Bay: 45
Tries: McClutchie, Flanders 2, Fai’ilagi, Malan 2, Ripley
Conversions: McClutchie 5

Auckland: 28
Tries: Tito-Harris, Taele, Tele’a, Vikena
Conversions: Simpson 4

Tasman’s blistering first half proved decisive as they piled on seven tries to lead 41–7 at the break. Wing Kyren Taumoefolau ran riot with a first-half hat-trick, while hooker Tomasi Maka crossed twice in contrasting fashion — one after a Havili cross-kick, the other off a classic maul. Fullback David Havili added two of his own in a display of sharp support running.

Southland’s only first-half highlight was a brilliant solo effort from No8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, who burst through midfield before finishing from 30m out. After the interval, Southland hit back through Michael Manson, who crossed three times in a stunning individual display. Paula Latu and Caleb Karangaroa also added tries as the home side refused to fold. But Tasman always had an answer, with Macca Springer scoring late to secure their ninth try in an end-to-end spectacle.

It was Southland’s spirit versus Tasman’s firepower, and in the end, the Mako’s ruthless start left the Stags too much to chase.

Southland 38
Tries: Ta’eiloa, Manson 3, Latu, Karangaroa
Conversions: Muliaina 2, Hollinshead 2

Tasman 55
Tries: Maka 2, D. Havili 2, Taumoefolau 3, Coxon, Springer
Conversions: W. Havili 5

Otago wasted no time stamping their authority in front of a Shield-hungry home crowd, scoring inside two minutes through Dylan Pledger after Sam Gilbert sliced through. North Harbour’s reply came via Mark Tele’a’s brilliance — first setting up Ben Brownlee, then racing 50m himself for an intercept try.

Otago regained the initiative when Christian Lio-Willie timed his surge perfectly off a ruck, followed by centurion Liam Coltman crashing over from a maul to give his side a halftime lead.

The second half belonged to Otago’s forward-led pressure and sharper finishing. Flanker Lucas Casey and halfback Pledger both crossed to stretch the margin, while Harbour struck back through Sofai Notoa-Tipo and Tom Barham. But first five-eighth Cameron Millar’s steady boot, with five conversions and two penalties, killed off Harbour’s comeback hopes and ensured the Ranfurly Shield would remain in Dunedin into summer.

Otago 41
Tries: Pledger 2, Lio-Willie, Coltman, Casey
Conversions: Millar 5
Penalties: Millar 2

North Harbour 26
Tries: Brownlee, Tele’a, Notoa-Tipo, Barham
Conversions: Howell 3

Taranaki turned a tight contest into a decisive win with a devastating 10-minute burst in the second half that yielded three tries. Early penalties from Jackson Garden-Bachop kept Wellington ahead, but Bradley Slater’s close-range try gave Taranaki momentum at halftime. They capitalised almost immediately after the break, Kaylum Boshier storming over after a slick pass from Josh Jacomb.

Moments later, Jesse Parete pounced on a chargedown for a try, and Logan Crowley added another after Jacomb’s break and deft kick ahead. Three tries in four minutes blew the game apart.

Wellington hit back through Dominic Ropeti and Callum Harkin, but a penalty try to Taranaki sealed matters. With Jacomb kicking confidently, Taranaki underlined their playoff credentials.

Taranaki 39
Tries: Slater, Boshier, Parete, Crowley, Penalty try
Conversions: Jacomb 3
Penalties: Jacomb 2

Wellington 20
Tries: Ropeti, Harkin
Conversions: Garden-Bachop 2
Penalties: Garden-Bachop 2

Bay of Plenty overpowered Waikato in a statement win built on relentless forward pressure and clinical finishing. Filipe Vakasiuola’s early try set the tone before Fehi Fineanganofo took over, scoring twice in the space of 10 minutes — first powering over from a maul, then showcasing impressive ball-handling to dive in again.

Kele Lasaqa added his trademark flair, kicking and regathering to score, and the Steamers were 29–0 ahead by halftime. Waikato’s only highlight came from Bailyn Sullivan’s sharp solo run after the break, but it was quickly answered by hooker Kurt Eklund finishing from another dominant maul. Replacement Kees Kolose iced the game with a late try, and Lucas Cashmore’s reliable boot did the rest.

It was a statement from Bay of Plenty heading into the final round.

Bay of Plenty 41
Tries: Vakasiuola, Fineanganofo 2, Lasaqa, Eklund, Kolose
Conversions: Cashmore 4
Penalties: Cashmore

Waikato 5
Try: Sullivan

Counties Manukau struck early and often to subdue Manawatū in a high-scoring encounter. Hooker Ioane Moananu bagged two tries inside 20 minutes, capitalising on Manawatū’s lineout errors. Gibson Popoali’i extended the lead with his first before Josh Gray crossed on halftime for a commanding 28–10 advantage.

Manawatū showed spirit, with Ngani Laumape scoring in the corner, TK Howden powering over from a maul, and James Tofa diving onto a loose ball from a Jordie Viljoen crosskick. Tofuka Paongo also added a clever finish from Laumape’s lobbed kick.

But Counties’ attacking depth told. Popoali’i completed his hat-trick in the second half, while fullback Etene Nanai-Seturo produced a solo stunner late on. AJ Alatimu’s flawless goal-kicking sealed an emphatic win that keeps Counties in the playoff hunt.

Counties Manukau 48
Tries: Moananu 2, Popoali’i 3, Gray, Nanai-Seturo
Conversions: Alatimu 5
Penalties: Alatimu

Manawatū 24
Tries: Laumape, Howden, Tofa, Paongo
Conversions: Coles 2

Northland stunned leaders Canterbury by holding them to a draw in a bruising contest that went to golden point. Canterbury started brightly, Kurtis MacDonald finishing a crisp backline move, before Jordan Trainor struck back for the Taniwha.

Shun Miyake gave Canterbury a halftime lead with a converted try, but yellow cards to Daniel Lienert-Brown and Angus Gardiner shifted momentum. From the pressure, No8 Terrell Peita powered over.

Manasa Mataele’s strike gave Canterbury breathing room, but Northland refused to yield. With time almost up, Rob Rush crashed over to level the game. Golden point brought one chance, Andrew Knewstubb’s penalty, but it drifted wide, leaving Canterbury’s lead at the top reduced to just one point.

Northland 19
Tries: Trainor, Peita, R. Rush
Conversions: Reihana 2

Canterbury 19
Tries: MacDonald, Miyake, Mataele
Conversions: Miyake, Knewstubb