New Zealand NPC - Round 2 Recap: Canterbury defeat Auckland as All Blacks wing returns to Tasman

Hawke's Bay slip from their spot at top of the tree, yet remain one of four undefeated sides left in the competition following the first two rounds of action. Taranaki and Canterbury join Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay as the sides to win two from two, but can the quartet hold on to their strong starts as the arduous NPC season rolls on week after week.

Here's RUCK's New Zealand NPC recap, as we bring you up to speed with all the action from Aotearoa following the second weekend of the competition. Sky Sports is the go-to broadcaster for the Bunnings NPC in the UK and Ireland, with Sky Sports NZ keeping you covered down in the land of the All Blacks.

In a tightly contested clash, Northland edged out Southland 22–17 in a match defined by second‑half intensity and fine margins. Southland jumped off to a dream start following a midfield turnover, with Scott Gregory crashing over in the 17th minute to make it 5–0 after Dan Hollinshead missed the conversion. Moments later, Hollinshead tapped into space to add a converted try, nudging the Stags ahead 7–0 by halftime.

The second half proved telling. Northland turned the tide via a series of mauls, James Mullan powered over the line within three minutes of the restart, with Rivez Reihana slotting the conversion to level the game at 7–7. Momentum swung firmly Northland’s way, particularly when Sean Withy crossed in the 56th minute to give Southland the lead again, converted by Mika Muliaina to edge ahead 14–7.

However, Mullan wasn’t finished as he bagged a second try in the 61st and followed up with his hat trick in the 68th minute, both converted by Reihana, putting Northland up 22–14. Southland pushed back late, earning a penalty, converted by Muliaina, but it proved only gloss on a memorable Northland comeback.

TRIES: 3 (Mullan 43′, 61′, 68′)

CONVERSIONS: 2 (Reihana 43′, 61′)

PENALTIES: 1 (Reihana 77′)

TRIES: 2 (Gregory 17′, Withy 56′)

CONVERSIONS 2 (Hollinshead 17′, Muliaina 56′)

PENALTIES: 1 (Muliaina 80′)

Taranaki came to North Harbour Stadium with a clear game plan and the muscle to back it up, with the Bulls running rampant across Harbour. Hooker Bradley Slater got things rolling, as he rumbled over for a pair of early tries straight off the lineout maul. With the forwards laying the platform, the backs joined the party, slick hands sent Fiji wing Taniela Rakuro in for Taranaki's third to further stun North Harbour.

Harbour hit back through flanker Karl Ruzich, after some tidy work from All Blacks wing Mark Tele’a, but any momentum was instantly snuffed out. A loose restart gifted Ben Dufficy the chance to stab through a grubber, and prop Jared Proffit was on hand to pounce over the whitewash. Tele’a would spark another Harbour response, as the wing put Kade Banks over in the corner, before Tom Hendrickson’s try brought it back to a single point, following an exhaustive first 40 minutes.

The second half, though, belonged entirely to the Bulls. An early injury to Harbour’s Oscar Koller opened the door for Taranaki, and centre Daniel Rona blasted through for the New Plymouth's sides fifth score. Sofai Notoa-Tipo's responding score gave the hosts a glimmer of hope, but the visitors’ pack turned the screw. Slater completed his hat-trick, Arese Poliko muscled over, and Vereniki Tikoisolomone added the final flourish in a dominant, statement win for Taranaki.

NORTH HARBOUR: 24

TRIES: 4 (Karl Ruzich, Kade Banks, Tom Hendrickson, Sofai Notoa-Tipo)

CONVERSIONS: 2 (Koller)

TRIES: 8 (Bradley Slater 3, Taniela Rakuro, Jared Proffit, Daniel Rona, Arese Poliko, Vereniki Tikoisolomone)

CONVERSIONS: 3 (Josh Jacomb)

Wellington hit the ground running at FMG Stadium, striking for two tries inside the opening quarter. First, prop PJ Scheck powered over from a post-lineout drive, then a slick backs-and-forwards exchange put Jackson Garden-Bachop under the sticks. Waikato’s defence tightened, but there was no stopping for All Blacks wing Julian Savea in full flight for his 34th minute score.

The hosts finally sparked into life before the break. Olli Mathis carved through from the wing, setting the platform for All Blacks veteran Aaron Cruden to pounce in for a try from close range. Momentum carried Waikato into the second half, as upon his 50th outing, halfback Xavier Roe darted from the base of a scrum for a popular home try. Xavier Saifoloi followed soon after from a ruck, cutting the deficit to just four points.

But just as Waikato looked threatening, a costly handling error was punished by the capital city club. Tjay Clarke scooped up and gassed it down field from halfway, untouched, to restore breathing space for the Lions. Moments later, lock Akira Ieremia’s tireless support running earned him a deserved five-pointer.

Waikato’s last word came via replacement hooker Pita Anae-Ah Sue, who finished off a try following another incisive burst from Roe. But it wasn’t enough, as Wellington left Hamilton with a valuable away win, that was built on ruthless finishing and big-moment composure.

TRIES: 4 (Aaron Cruden, Xavier Roe, Xavier Saifoloi, Pita Anae-Ah Sue)

CONVERSIONS 2 (Tepaea Cook-Savage 2)

TRIES: 5 (PJ Sheck, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Julian Savea, Tjay Clarke, Akira Ieremia)

CONVERSIONS: 5 (Garden-Bachop 5)

Tasman bounced back in style following their opening round defeat, as the turned their lineout into a weapon of mass destruction in Nelson. Eight minutes in, hooker Eli Oudenryn crashed over from the maul to set the tone, and then midway through the first half, a pinpoint long throw sparked a surge that saw lock Lopeti Faifua rumble in.

Then came a neat variation for the Makos, as Ethan Blackadder and David Havili combined to give Leicester Fainga’anuku a stroll-in. It was a stellar return to New Zealand for Fainga'anuku, as the wing is back in his homeland following a run with RC Toulon in the Top 14.

Manawatū thought they’d finally cracked the scoreboard, only for the referee's decision to rule out their efforts. From the very next play, Fainga’anuku snaffled a loose ball and danced through green jerseys for his second score, with the flyer handing the hosts a commanding 28–0 halftime lead.

The visitors came out firing after the break. Replacement prop James Tofa barrelled over for Manawatu, before Taine Roiri burrowed in from a tap-and-go penalty. But just as the Turbos found a foothold in the match, a restart fumble proved costly, as Tone Ng Shiu pounced across the line for Tasman’s fifth.

Manawatū replied instantly through Kyle Brown's score after a classy Braydon Iose break, yet the Mako finished with a flourish. Number 8 Fletcher Anderson and fullback William Havili both dotted down late, to seal a statement 49–17 win built on ruthless set-piece execution and clinical finishing.

TRIES: 7 (Eli Oudenryn, Lopeti Faifua, Leicester Fainga'anuku 2, Tone Ng Shiu, Fletcher Anderson, Willie Havili)

CONVERSIONS: 7 (Willie Havili 7)

MANAWATU: 17

TRIES: 3 (James Tofa, Taine Roiri, Kyle Brown)

CONVERSIONS: 1 (Brett Cameron)

The classic Canterbury-Auckland rivalry kicked off in Christchurch with the usual tense exchanges, but it was the home side who drew first blood. Hooker Nick Hyde burrowed over from a lineout drive to put Canterbury on the board early. Auckland answered back with pace and skill out wide, fullback Payton Spencer spotted the gap and slipped a pass to All Blacks Sevens star Codemeru Vai for a break down the sideline, for the visitors’ opening try.

The Reds weren’t done before halftime, as Xavier Tito-Harris powered through a gap for Canterbury's second. Vai bagged his own brace shortly after, as Auckland refused to give an inch despite tricky conditions upon the South Island.

Canterbury’s trademark patience and grit shone through in the second half. Lock Zac Gallagher crashed over from a goal-line ruck to bring the hosts back into contention. A missed 55-metre penalty attempt turned then into gold, as Johnny McNicholl’s clever kick found centre Jone Rova, who pounced to snatch the lead. From there, Canterbury’s defence stood firm, repelling Auckland’s desperate raids to secure a narrow 19-15 victory.

TRIES: 3 (Nick Hyde, Zac Gallagher, Jone Rova)

CONVERSIONS: 1 (James White)

TRIES: 3 (Codemeru Vai 2, Xavier Tito-Harris)

Bay of Plenty showed ruthless efficiency at Pukekohe, putting Counties Manukau under the pump early and often. The scoring started just eight minutes into the match when flanker Veveni Lasaqa shrugged off a tackle to score, setting the tone for the visitors. Their forwards delivered slick ball, and first five-eighth Lucas Cashmore sliced through the Manukau defence for a second try just seven minutes later.

Counties Manukau hit back with hooker Zuriel Togiatama powering over from a controlled lineout maul, but the Steamers weren’t done before halftime. Lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi crashed over from a series of rucks, which gave Bay of Plenty a commanding 21-7 lead at the break.

The second half saw drama unfold as All Blacks prospect hooker Kurt Eklund and fullback Kaleb Trask were both sin-binned in quick succession, swinging momentum back to Counties. Manukau ran in a trio of tries with the extra-men advantage, as flanker Adam Brash and hooker Ioane Moananu (twice) capitalised to bring the hosts within four points.

But Trask’s cool boot nudged Bay of Plenty clear, with penalties and conversions keeping the score-board ticking over, as Eklund’s try extended the lead. The Bay sealed it when halfback Charlie Sinton darted over on the counterattack, closing out a 39-22 win that showed their brutal and clinical edge.

TRIES: 4 (Zuriel Togiatama, Adam Brash, Ioane Moananu 2)

CONVERSIONS: 1 (Riley Hohepa)

TRIES: 5 (Veveni Lasaqa, Lucas Cashmore, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kurt Eklund, Charlie Sinton)

CONVERSIONS: 4 (Kaleb Trask)

PENALTIES: 2 (Kaleb Trask)

Under the roof in Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium, Hawke’s Bay made the early running, as they stormed to a solid 17-0 lead. Halfback Ere Enari was perfectly placed to finish off a break from lock Geoff Crige, before Number Eight Devan Flanders powered low over the line from a tight ruck. First five-eighth Harry Godfrey was on target with his conversions, and also added a penalty to stretch the away advantage.

Otago fought back fiercely just before halftime. Fijian Drua lock Joseva Tamani showed off his pace from a slick lineout move to crash over, and wing Jona Nareki finished off a sharp break from his back-three partner Sam Gilbert. Both tries were converted by Cameron Millar, who narrowed the gap to 14-20 at the half-time break.

The second half was a tight, attritional battle until the 59th minute when Hawke’s Bay struck again. Prop Pouri Rakete-Stones burst through the defence, to set up hooker Jacob Devery and extend the Magpies' lead. Otago kept pushing and finally grabbed a bonus point try in the dying minutes, as replacement Lucas Casey crossed to close the gap in a late consolation effort for the Dunedin faithful.

TRIES: 3 (Joseva Tamani, Jona Nareki, Lucas Casey)

CONVERSIONS: 3 (Cameron Millar)

TRIES: 3 (Ere Enari, Devan Flanders, Jacob Devery)

CONVERSIONS: 3 (Harry Godfrey 3)

PENALTIES: 2 (Harry Godfrey 2)