NPC Round 5 Wrap: Tasman make Ranfurly Shield history

Tasman scored a stunning last-minute win when Campbell Parata landed a long-range penalty goal to stun the holders for a 25-24 win in Napier. It was the first time Tasman had ever lifted the Ranfurly Shield in their almost 20-year history. 

Wellington warmed up by beating Southland 36-12 at Porirua. 

While both Tasman and Wellington are unbeaten, Hawke's Bay, having played one more game, still has a hold on the competition leadership, leading by two points from Wellington, which has two more bonus points than third-placed Tasman. 

Canterbury's 34-16 away win over Otago lifted it back into the top eight with Bay of Plenty (22), Taranaki (20) and Waikato (17) ahead of its 15 points.

Auckland's 36-32 win over neighbour North Harbour lifted it from the winless category where Manawatu sits alone.

Waikato 34 Northland 19

Quick thinking saw Northland wing Nathan Salmon catch a penalty cross kick in the third minute to give Waikato a wake-up call at Hamilton. The response was prompt through an outstanding angle and run from flying flanker Oli Mathis who cut back in and cleared out to score. And seven minutes later in the 12th minute halfback Quintony Ngatai's kick to the in-goal paid off when Northland couldn't cover the ball and Ngatai scored. Mathis was in the backline to chase a kick ahead by replacement five-eighths D'Angelo Leuila and pass inside to wing Aki Tuivailala who scored. Northland halfback Lisati Milo-Harris crossed after a dummy move off a lineout. Dropped Waikato ball was kicked ahead by Northland second five-eighths Quinton Nichols to get back to 19-21 down at the break. Northland lost two try chances to bad handling and halfback Xavier Roe scored the only try of the half to secure the game for the home team.

Northland enjoyed a 56 per cent territorial advantage but only made 298 metres on attack compared to the 609 by Waikato, who had the benefit of 30 defenders beaten to 17 and nine clean breaks to five. Waikato and paid a heavy price in their lineouts with only a 53 per cent success on their ball.

Waikato 34 (Oli Mathis, Quintony Ngatai, Aki Tuivailala, Xavier Roe tries; Tepea Cook-Savage 4 con, 2 pen) Northland 19 (Nathan Salmon, Lisati Milo-Harris, Quinton Nichols tries; Dan Hawkins 2 con). HT: 21-19

Bay of Plenty 68 Manawatu 14

Bay of Plenty's slipped in after clever ruck work in front of the posts by wing Leroy Carter who ran to the goalmouth to get the ball to Semisi Paea to score three minutes after the start. Six minutes later centre Emoni Narawa scored in the corner. Bay of Plenty's speed ripped Manawatu to shreds as flanker Joe Johnston crossed in the 19th minute. Manawatu's TK Howden intercepted a pass to get one try back, but the inability to hold ball hit the visitors and Johnston scored a second try from uncontrolled Manawatu ruck ball. Intercepts appeared Manawatu's only scoring option as wing Taniela Filimone pulled off another to score. But Bay of Plenty regained control and the side cuts lose, adding 33 points to their second half lead  of 35-14 without response. 

Manawatu couldn't get a look in. Bay of Plenty dominated possession 66-34 percent and territory 63-37. The punished the visiting defence in beating 46 tacklers to 11 and making 17 clean breaks to three. Manawatu was forced to make 221 tackles to 106.

Bay of Plenty 68 (Semisi Paea, Emoni Narawa, Joe Johnston 2, Nikora Broughton, Cody Vai, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Fehi Fineanganofo, Taine Kolose 2 tries; Kaleb Trask 9 con) Manawatu 14 (TK Howden, Taniela Filimone tries; Liam O'Connor 2 con). HT: 35-14

Auckland 36 North Harbour 32

Replacement forward Karl Ruzich went over for North Harbour from a lineout drive, but down 3-13 late in the first half, the Auckland went to work on the line and, eventually, space was provided at a ruck for halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara to dive for the try. But before the turnaround, a breakout move with an inside pass from fullback Shaun Stevenson and an overhead hail Mary from halfback Bryn Hall was snared by Soane Vikena, who scored a great team try. 

Twelve minutes into the second half, centre Moses Leo used his speed to score a solo try, giving his side a 27-10 lead. Auckland replacement hooker Soane Vikena scored next, and then flanker Anton Segner tapped a lineout ball down to wing Caleb Tangitau charging through the space. Wing Kade Banks scored out wide to give North Harbour a 32-24 lead. But with five minutes left, first five-eighths, Rico Simpson got over to close the margin to three points. Harbour paid for an attempted ball change by Hall as Auckland were given a free-kick. Simpson accelerated to a gap and flicked the ball to Tangitau, who cut back to score just before the end.

Auckland 36 (Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Soane Vikena, Caleb Tangitau 2, Rico Simpson tries; Zarn Sullivan 4 con, pen) North Harbour 32 (Karl Ruzich, Sofai Maka, Moses Leo, Kade Banks tries; Tane Edmed 3 con, 2 pen). HT: 10-20

Wellington 36 Southland 12

Wellington made full use of the wind at its back to score four first-half tries in the first 24 minutes, with halfback Kyle Preston going over for the first, to be followed by second five-eighths Riley Higgins, who showed his elusiveness to race away from the defence. Hooker Leni Apisai was involved in the next two tries, scoring the first himself and then providing the ball for Higgins to put wing Stanley Solomon over in the corner. Replacement loose forward Hayden Michaels got up after being tackled out from the line and then got up to take the ball from halfback Lachlan Albert to jump over for Southland's first try. But quick movement of the ball resulted in Peter Umaga-Jensen crossing out wide. Southland scored another when running a tap penalty from their 22m, resulting in centre Isaac Te Tamaki scoring. Wellington had the final say, with fullback Tjay Clarke running away from 52m out to score.

Southland had reason to be satisfied with holding Wellington so close in the possession stakes but it was unable to make the most efficient use of ball. Its scrum gave some hurry-up, achieving an 86 percent success rate, compared to 60 for the home team.

Wellington 36 (Kyle Preston, Riley Higgens, Leni Apisai, Stanley Solomon, Peter Umaga-Jenson, Tjay Clarke tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 3 con) Southland 12 (Hayden Michaels, Isaac Te Tamaki tries; Jake Strachan con). HT: 24-0

Otago 16 Canterbury 34

Canterbury's second five-eighths Jone Rova gave the red-and-blacks a much-needed positive start with a try eight minutes into the game. But, Otago's first five-eighths, Cameron Millar landed three penalty goals and then showed his speed on the break when fielding a Canterbury downfield kick to burst through the defence to feed wing Jona Nareki in for Otago to claim a 16-7 lead by halftime. But Canterbury tightened up its game in the second 40. Otago was kept scoreless as the visitors ran in three final-quarter tries to centre Dallas McLeod, prop Brewis, and hooker Brodie McAlister to not only come back for the win but also to claim a vital bonus point.

Gaining two-thirds of second-half possession and position proved crucial to Canterbury over-turning a 16-7 lead to the home team in Dunedin. Otago was held scoreless as Canterbury consistently breached the advantage line 87 times to 71 for Otago while it moved the ball 239 times to 117 and made 14 offloads to seven. Canterbury also dominated the rucks, winning 137 to 78 and demanded Otago make 228 tackles to 126, albeit at the impressive success rate of 90 per cent.  

Otago 16 (Jona Nareki try; Cameron Millar con, 3 pen) Canterbury 34 (Jone Rova, Dallas McLeod, Finlay Brewis, Brodie McAlister tries; James White con; Isaac Hutchinson pen; Shun Miyake 3 con, pen). HT: 16-7

Hawke's Bay 24 Tasman 25

Tasman's outside battering rams wing Tomici Tavatavanawai and centre Levi Aumua created havoc for Hawke's Bay's defence and put them on the back foot early for Tasman to capitalise with tries to prop Ryan Coxon and hooker Quentin MacDonald in the first 22 minutes. Having had an earlier try ruled out when it was grounded short, Hawke's Bay scored in the 34th minute when flanker Sam Smith was on the end of the backline to score. A penalty goal and dropped goal to Havili gave Tasman a 19-5 lead at the break. The defenders mounted their response with replacement prop Joe Apikitoa blasting over in the 54th minute. Fullback Ben O'Donnell and replacement Matt Protheroe scored tries to level the scores with two minutes left, and midfielder Danny Toala's sideline conversion of Prothertoe's try put them in front for the first time in the game. But a penalty conceded 48m out allowed replacement Campbell Parata a chance after the final hooter, and his kick created Tasman history.

Hawke's Bay's 71 percent tackle rate saw 40 missed tackles compared to 13 by Tasman, which yielded nine turnovers to five as Tasman made better use of its 53 percent territory advantage. Hawke's Bay also conceded 11 penalties to seven, four of them resulting in penalty goals for the challengers.

Hawke's Bay 24 (Sam Smith, Joe Apikotoa, Ben O'Donnell, Matt Protheroe tries; Danny Toala 2 con) Tasman 25 (Ryan Coxon, Quentin MacDonald tries; William Havili 3 pen, dropped goal; Campbell Parata pen). HT: 5-19

Taranaki 25 Waikato 19

Three tries to wing Vereniki Tikoisolomone and second five-eighths Daniel Rona (2) in the first 15 minutes at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth threatened to shut Waikato out of the contest. Waikato paid the price for poor ball control. Finally, after 28 minutes,  Waikato worked a lineout move with wing Tupaea Cook-Savage coming off the blindside wing to slice through and score. After the break at 15-7, Taranaki added three from a Jacomb penalty goal before Waikato No8 Patrick McCurran scored after first five-eighths Aaaron Cruden's build-up work. A charge down in Taranaki's 22m area was recovered by replacement halfback Xavier Roe and wing Gideon Wrampling scored under the posts to claim the lead. But, with two minutes left, Taranaki broke down the right touch with the home backs handling before Jacomb was on hand in support, securing the winning try.

Taranaki had 60 percent of possession and 617 attacking metres to 351 by Waikato, who made 86 percent of their 175 tackles to 113 by the home team. Taranaki also achieved 110-70 dominance in rucks and got over the advantage line with 85 carries to 57.

Taranaki 25 (Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Daniel Rona 2, Josh Jacomb tries; Jacomb con, pen) Waikato 19 (Tepaea Cook-Savage, Patrick McCurran, Gideon Wrampling tries; Aaron Cruden con, D'Angelo Leuila con). HT: 15-7

Counties Manukau 25 Northland 14

Home team Counties Manukau won only 39 percent of territory and were held to 36 percent of possession in a tough second half, but their first-half effort when claiming an 18-0 lead at the break set up their win. First five-eighths AJ Alatimu scored two minutes into the game, to be followed after 21 minutes by centre Tevita Ofa, and then by fullback Etene Nanai-Seturo with nine minutes of the half left. None of the tries were converted, and it wasn't until second five-eighth Riley Hohepa's 34th-minute penalty goal that landed a kick. 

Northland poured the pressure on during the third quarter and finally got some reward when prop Chris Apoua scored after 57 minutes, and then hooker Matt Moulds reduced the deficit to four points with a converted try. However, that only lifted the home response, where lock Jadin Kingi scored with eight minutes remaining to seal the win.

Counties Manukau 25 (AJ Alatimu, Tevita Ofa, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Jadin Kingi tries; Riley Hohepa con, pen) Northland 14 (Chris Apoua, Matt Moulds tries; Rivez Reihana 2 con). HT: 18-0