NPC Round 6 wrap up: Tasman make first ‘log o wood’ defence

Wellington failed to take its chances in Blenheim, losing 15-28 in the challenge.

Hawke's Bay, who lost the Shield a week earlier failed to bounce back, thrashed 5-50 by Waikato.

Bay of Plenty moved into third place with a 33-20 win over defending champions Taranaki while Counties Manukau edged into the top eight with their 45-17 win over Otago.

Otago 28 Wellington 32

Both sides gave their squads opportunities in this midweek game and it resulted in a thrilling contest. Making his starting debut for Otago, flanker Lucas Casey marked the occasion with a try off a lineout where he broke the defence with ease. After a scything break by first five-eighths Callum Harkin, it was flanker Dominic Ropeti who went over for Wellington's immediate response. Failing to nail fullback Finn Hurley seven minutes from halftime was costly as his play set up hooker Henry Bell for a try that gave Otago a 14-13 halftime lead. A 14-point play when Otago looked set to score only to lose the ball, and it was moved from Wellington's line with Harkin breaking and having Waikato loan halfback Nui Muriwai in support for him to get the ball and race 50m to score. Lock Akira Ieremia burst onto a short pass and beat the defence to extend Wellington's lead with a try. Otago stayed in touch when replacement back Thomas Umaga-Jensen powered through to score with 22 minutes left. Centre Hudson Creighton got over in the corner for Otago and with seven remaining, replacement five-eighths Cameron Millar landed a sideline conversion to give Otago a 28-27 lead. But with two minutes left, flanker PJ Sheck scored for Wellington to snatch the win.

Otago 28 (Lucas Casey, Henry Bell, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Hudson Creighton tries; Ajay Faleafaga 2 con; Cameron Millar 2 con) Wellington 32 (Dominic Ropeti, Nui Muriwai, Akira Ieremia, PJ Sheck tries; Callum Harkin 3 con, 2 pen). HT: 14-13

Southland 29 Canterbury 41

Sixty-nine seconds was all it took for Canterbury to show its running capabilities in Invercargill as halfback Nic Shearer ran a supporting line to chase second five-eighths Dallas McLeod's centring kick to score the opening try. Three minutes later, McLeod scored from wing Ngatungane Punivai's blindside entry after a lineout. Southland was unbowed. A powerful scrum provided blindside ball for first five-eighths Byron Smith kick in-goal where wing Michael Manson dived to score. Smith landed a penalty goal and then, in the 24th minute, put in a cross-kick to wing Viliame Fine, who took the ball and dropped over the line to score.

Tied at 17-all heading towards halftime, Southland made a fatal mistake when shoulder contact in a tackle on Canterbury prop Harrison Allan saw him sin-binned, and in the resulting play, Canterbury's driving maul set up the backs for Punivai to score. Canterbury repeated their first-half start, taking only three seconds more before Shearer scored his second try as they ran back a Smith kick from outside their 22m area. Punivai scored his second in the 50th minute, but Southland threw the ball around with Manson breaking and then feeding replacement halfback Liam Howley over for a try. Then in the 65th minute, Fine and centre Isaac Te Tamaki combined for Fine to kick ahead and beat the ball to the deadball line to score. But Canterbury had the final say, with replacement back Ryan Crotty scoring to complete the win.

Southland 29 (Michael Manson, Viliame Fine 2, Liam Howley tries; Bryon Smith 3 con, pen) Canterbury 41 (Nic Shearer 2, Dallas Mcleod, Ngatungane Punivai 2, Ryan Crotty tries; Shun Miyake 4 con, pen)  HT: 17-24

Bay of Plenty 33 Taranaki 20

Flanker Joe Johnston's 12th-minute try set Bay of Plenty up with early reward from its lineout drive, and then a 14-phase sequence saw lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi muscle his way through the defence to score 10 minutes later. Taranaki showed combination skills when a long lineout throw was taken by first five-eighths Josh Jacomb, who quickly transferred the ball inside for blindside wing Josh Setu to draw the defence and feed second five-eighths Daniel Rona in for a try.

Ten minutes into the second half, more lineout power saw hooker Kurt Eklund go low over the line to score. Taranaki, who had missed an excellent chance to close the gap just before halftime when running out of time, went pushing the limits to close the margin only to have centre Emoni Narawa make an intercept 70m out. The defence closed on him but he had replacement back Fehi Fineanganofo in support to take the pass and score. Into the final quarter, Finenaganofo was given just enough room to speed 40m down the sideline to score his second try. The Bay failed to control the restart, and it was replacement Vereniki Tikoisolomone who charged out of ruck to score. Into injury time, Taranaki used consecutive penalties to have wing Kini Naholo score.

Bay of Plenty 33 (Joe Johnston, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kurt Eklund, Fehi Fineanganofo 2 tries; Kurt Eklund 4 con) Taranaki 20 (Daniel Rona, Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Kini Naholo tries; Josh Jacomb con, pen). HT: 14-10

North Harbour 58 Manawatū 19

A first-half blitz of skills and speed from North Harbour in Albany resulted in 41 points for the home team with deft kicking, precision passing and memorable support play to wrap the game up by halftime, even if Manawatū scored some impressive points of their own, especially a classy try to prop Joe Gavigan.

Edmed, whose 33 points from two tries, the second a brilliant chance built on quality side-stepping skill, and 23 points from his boot, was one short of Frano Botica's 29-year record of most points for North Harbour set against Queensland Country, but the best in NPC rugby for the Union. He ran rampant, scoring the first try of the second half and then flinging the pass that saw wing Sofai Maka denied a second try. But, nearly 20 minutes later, the pair worked another variation, this time with Edmed chipping a kick to the wing where Somai was unmarked to score his second uncontested. Manawatu had 48 percent of possession but lacked penetration, beating only 12 defenders to 28, and could only breach the advantage line 46 times to 74.

North Harbour 58 (Tane Edmed 2, Bryn Gordon, Kade Banks 2, Sofai Maka 2; Edmed 7 con, 3 pen) Manawatū 19 (Raymond Tuputupu, Joe Gavigan, TK Howden tries; Liam O'Connor 2 con). HT: 41-19

Waikato 50 Hawke's Bay 5

Continuity play resulting in a seventh-minute opening try to Waikato fullback Tepaea Cook-Savage sent out a warning to Hawke's Bay about the home team's intent in Hamilton, but it wasn't absorbed. A masterclass of wet weather rugby followed as handling and astute kicking wreaked havoc on the defenders. First five-eighths, D'Angelo Leuila, made the most of it, scoring the first of four tries in a 35-point individual haul in the 10th minute. Three minutes later, he was in again from a close pass 10m from the line. Hawke's Bay got one back when second five-eighths Danny Toala crossed from a ruck. But a blindside try to No8 Malachi Wrampling-Alex set up the bonus point after 30 minutes, and in the 37th minute, Leuila crossed for a first-half hat-trick.

And four minutes into the second half, Lueila pounced on untidy ball and scored his fourth try. He equalled Bruce Reihana's record of 35 points – the most by a Waikato player, set against North Otago in 2000. Just before the final quarter centre, Bailyn Sullivan broke into the 22m area where the second five-eighths Gideon Wrampling took an inside pass to complete the try-scoring spectacular, and no more points were added.

Waikato 50 (Tepaea Cook-Savage, D'Angelo Leuila 4; Malachi Wrampling-Alec, Gideon Wrampling tries; Leuila 6 con pen) Hawke's Bay 5 (Danny Toala). HT: 36-5

Tasman 28 Wellington 15

Tasman, defending the Ranfurly Shield for the first time, took a rare early chance when prop Ryan Coxon blocked a kick by Wellington fullback Ruben Love, then secured the ball for Tasman to move it quickly with wing Timoci Tavatavanawai finishing off with a try. Wellington wing Julian Savea stepped on the sideline while diving for a try. Nearing halftime, Love couldn't capitalise on a break by first five-eighths Jackson Garden-Bachop when held up over the line. Centre Billy Proctor created a second-half chance and passed to fullback Tjay Clarke who scored. But, it was Tasman who regained a six-point margin from a tap penalty taken by halfback Findlay Christie just short of Wellington's line. However, in the second five-eighths, Riley Higgins picked up a clever grubber kick from Garden-Bachop to the corner. Denied a try on the right flank, in a similar manner to Savea, wing Kyren Taumoefolau made no mistake, stepping his way back infield and racing to score in the left corner with nine minutes left, the margin extended by first five-eighths Campbell Parata's sideline conversion. And to round out their first defence, Parata slipped a kick to the right corner, where replacement wing Nic Sauira scored a try.

Down on possession and territory by small margins, Tasman faced relentless pressure from Wellington who beat 34 defenders to 19, made nine offloads to three, won 87 rucks to 72 and forced 151 tackles from the defenders while making only 124 of their own. Tasman also had to overcome a lineout deficiency where they managed only a 43 percent success rate. However, Wellington infringed at twice the rate of the home side, with 12 penalties conceded to six.

Tasman 28 (Timoci Tavatavanawai, Finlay Christie, Kyren Taumoefolau, Nic Sauira tries; Campbell Parata con, 2 pen) Wellington 15 (Tjay Clarke, Riley Higgins tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop con, pen). HT: 8-3

Counties Manukau 45 Otago 17

Fine support play by flanker Cameron Church out in the backline saw him pass outside to wing Peniasi Malimali and then remain with him to take a return pass to score the first try at Pukekohe. Moments later, Malimali was on the right flank as Counties Manukau ran the ball from their 22m to score. In the 22nd minute, Malimali scored a second try, diving over a goalline ruck this time. Otago No8 Will Stoddart ensured reward for a break by second five-eighths Thomas Umaga-Jensen by scoring. However, Malimali was given room on the left flank, creating a chance for second five-eighths Riley Hohepa to score for a 28-10 halftime lead. Fullback Finn Hurley pulled a try back for Otago, six minutes into the second half. But, again, it was Malimali, this time showing his power game who pushed off defenders to get over in the corner. Seven minutes from the end, a Malimali chargedown and clean-up put replacement Blake Makiri in before flanker Adam Brash scored the final try after a breakout by wing Josh Gray.

Otago paid the price for its 73 percent tackle success, missing 35 tackles to 21 by Counties Manukau. Life was difficult for the visitors, with the rucks relatively even and possession shared. They also won only 68 percent of their lineouts.

Counties Manukau 45 (Cameron Church, Peniasi Malimali 3, Riley Hohepa, Blake Makiri, Adam Brash tries; AJ Alatimu 5 con) Otago 17 (Will Stodart, Finn Hurley tries: Cameron Millar 2 con, pen). HT: 28-10

Northland 17 Auckland 24

Auckland had some anxious moments in the final minutes as TMO consideration ruled out a home try that could have forced the game to golden point. First five-eighths Rivez Reihana looked to have scored to set up the chance of an equalising conversion. But Auckland centre Xavi Taele made a tackle while flanker Adrian Choate forced Reihana to knock the ball on while attempting to ground the ball. There was also consideration of whether it was a dangerous tackle, but it was ruled fair, and Auckland survived. They looked home and hosed after a 54th-minute try to second five-eighths Bryce Heem took them to a 24-5 lead, four minutes after Patrick Tuipulotu's try built on the halftime lead of 12-5. Halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara and Taele scored first-half tries, while wing Heremaia Murray scored Northland's first try.

Northland came back with two tries in seven minutes to replacement back Quinton Nichols and flanker Rob Rush. Auckland won 59 percent of possession by had only 47 percent of territory. They moved the ball more but had to make more tackles than the home team 155 to 147. However, Auckland missed 15 tackles to 20 by Northland who kicked more 30-22 and won nine turnovers to five. However, Auckland won 91 rucks to 76.

Northland 17 (Heremaia Murray, Quinton Nichols, Rob Rush tries; Rivez Reihana con) Auckland 24 (Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Xavi Taele, Patrick Tuipulotu, Bryce Heem tries; Harry Plummer 2 con). HT: 5-12