Reviewing the NPC opening weekend

Wellington, beaten semifinalists last year, upset Auckland at Eden Park 29-21 while the beaten finalists and Ranfurly Shield holders Hawke's Bay headed North Harbour 41-32 in Albany.

In Invercargill, Southland, last year's wooden spooners claimed a confidence-boosting 22-13 win over Otago.

Tasman completed the round with the highest win, a 54-21 win over Manawatu in Palmerston North.

Round 1

Taranaki 31 Counties Manukau 15

Taranaki made its intentions clear after 10 minutes of their opening game when first five-eighths Josh Jacomb slipped a gap inside his half and saw the ball moved to flying wing Kini Naholo, who ran in a superb try. Fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens gave Naholo the pass in that try, had a stunning run soon after, and then combined with Naholo as he scored his second try.

Then, Jacomb got in the act with a charge down try to give Taranaki a 19-3 halftime lead, and he backed that with a sizzling second try on the end of a long pass from Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens at a standoff, 51sec into the second half.

Taranaki 31 (Kini Naholo 2, Josh Jacomb 2, Jackson Morgan tries; Jacomb 3 con) Counties Manukau 15 (Gibson Popoali'i, Hoskins Sotutu tries; Riley Hohepa pen; Kalione Hala con). HT: 19-3

Auckland 21 Wellington 29

Punishing Auckland for not taking its early chances, Wellington turned the ball over and let flanker Peter Lakai loose, and it was left to halfback Kyle Preston, who capped the move for an opening try. Wing Nigel Ah Wong finally got one back for the home team at Eden Park, but then visiting skipper and flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi took charge, winning a crucial turnover and seeing fullback Tjay Clarke score at the other end.

Centre Peter Umaga-Jensen had time to tidy up a dropped ball and sprinted through the defence to score a key try before the break. Home captain No8 Akira Ioane got them back in the hunt with a scrum try but the final say came with Kirifi crossing at the three-quarter mark with Wellington far enough in front to hold on for a win.

Auckland 21 (Nigel Ah Wong, Akira Ioane, Anton Segner tries; Alex Harford 2 con; Zarn Sullivan con) Wellington 29 (Kyle Preston, Tjay Clarke, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Du'Plessis Kirifi tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 3 con, pen). HT: 7-19

Canterbury 34 Northland 21

Canterbury got their win courtesy of five lineout maul tries that saw starting hooker Brodie McAlister score three tries and replacement Ben Funnell two. But the prize for elegance went to the visitors, who were in the game at 14-17 down at halftime and then at 21-22 soon after. Wing Heremia Murray scored the try of the game on the end of a sweeping movement.

Both sides lost try-scoring chances during the first half. Murray was pinged for a forward pass with a try certain fullback Jordan Trainor losing the ball over the line, and Canterbury's first five-eighths Rameka Pohipi lost the ball over the line. Northland looked the better unit moving the ball, while Canterbury showed its ability from set-piece control.

Canterbury 34 (Brodie McAlister 3, Jamie Hannah, Ben Funnell 2 tries; Isaac Hitchinson con; James White con) Northland 21 (Chris Apoua, Tevita Latu, Heremia Murray tries; Rivez Reihana 3 con). HT: 17-14

Southland 22 Otago 13

Southland reclaimed the Donald Stuart Memorial Shield with their home-ground win in Invercargill. It was their first over their historic rival since a 32-15 win in 2020 and only their second win since a 38-32 win in 2013. From the moment, in the fourth minute, that hooker Jack Taylor was put into space just inside Otago's half by wing Viliame Fine and raced to the corner, missing the try but showing intent, it was clear this was a different Southland side.

So it proved as flanker Blair Ryall crossed for a stunning opening try to be followed by Fine and centre Isaac Te Tamaki, while Otago's only try came courtesy of veteran hooker Liam Coltman.

Southland 22 (Blair Ryall, Viliami Fine, Isaac Te Tamaki tries; Byron Smith 2 con, pen) Otago 13 (Liam Coltman try; Cam Millar con, 2 pen). HT: 10-6

Waikato 21 Bay of Plenty 36

Waikato scored first, but Bay of Plenty packed a lineout punch that set up a halftime lead of 22-7. Then add the class and speed of the Bay of Plenty outside backs as wings Codemeri Vai and Emoni Narawa combined with fullback Cole Forbes in try-scoring action, and Waikato was shut out until the final quarter. And by then, it was too late.

Lock Lachlan McWhannell and Moorby backed second five-eighths Quinn Tupaea's earlier effort, but by that stage, the game was in the bank for the visitors.

Waikato 21 (Quinn Tupaea, Lachlan McWhannell, Josh Moorby tries; D'Angelo Leuila con; Taha Kemara 2 con) Bay of Plenty 36 (Joe Johnston 2, Codemeru Vai, Emoni Narawa, Seamus Bardoul tries; Kaleb Trask 4 con, pen). HT: 7-22

North Harbour 32 Hawke's Bay 41

Three-quarters of the way through this game in Albany, North Harbour had every reason to believe they had done enough through lovely tries to wings Kade Banks and Sofai Maka with pure artistry in his in-out play and fullback Shaun Stevenson. But every time they looked like taking hold of the game, Hawke's Bay did enough to keep themselves in touch.

That was borne out in the final 15 minutes when they turned around a 17-32 deficit to claim their win, the game being sealed with possibly their best try, an 80-metre effort finished by centre Nick Grigg.

North Harbour 32 (Kade Banks 2, Karl Ruzich, Sofai Maka, Shaun Stevenson tries; Tane Edmed 2 con, pen) Hawke's Bay 42 (Folau Fakatava, Tim Farrell, Geoff Cridge, Keanu Kereru-Symes, Frank Lochore, Nick Grigg tries; Harry Godfrey con; Lincoln McClutchie 2 con, pen; Danny Toala con). HT: 15-7

Manawatū 21 Tasman 54

Tasman launched a 19-minute, five-try assault seven minutes into their game in Palmerston North that killed any Manawatu hopes of success. Flanker Max Hicks and wing Timoci Tavatavanawai scored two tries each as Tasman raced out to a 35-7 lead by halftime. Compounding the home team's problems was Tasman's first five-eighths William Havili's six conversions.

Home first five-eighths Brett Cameron scored a try in the first half and was followed by replacement back James Tofa, and flanker TK Howden in the second half, but they were compensation tries at best.

Manawatū 21 (Brett Cameron, James Tofa, TK Howden tries; Cameron 3 con) Tasman 54 (Max Hicks 2, Timoci Tavatavanawai 2, Finlay Christie, Levi Aumua, Sione Havili Talitui, Jack Gray tries; William Havili 6 con; Campbell Parata con). HT: 7-35

 

Round 1
FRIDAY 9 AUGUST 2024
FT	Taranaki		31	v	15		Counties Manukau
Yarrow Stadium
FT	Auckland		21	v	29		Wellington
Eden Park
SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 2024
FT	Canterbury		34	v	21		Northland
Apollo Projects Stadium
FT	Southland		22	v	13		Otago
Invercargill Rugby Park
FT	Waikato		21	v	36		Bay Of Plenty
FMG Stadium Waikato
SUNDAY 11 AUGUST 2024
FT	North Harbour		32	v	41		Hawke's Bay
North Harbour Stadium
FT	Manawatū		21	v	54		Tasman
Central Energy Trust Arena
WEDNESDAY 14 AUGUST 2024
19:05	Bay Of Plenty			v			Counties Manukau
Rotorua International Stadium
Round 2
FRIDAY 16 AUGUST 2024
19:05	Otago			v			Auckland
Forsyth Barr Stadium
SATURDAY 17 AUGUST 2024
14:05	Northland			v			Manawatū
Semenoff Stadium
14:05	Tasman			v			Canterbury
Trafalgar Park
16:35	Hawke's Bay			v			Southland
McLean Park

SUNDAY 18 AUGUST 2024
14:05	Bay Of Plenty			v			North Harbour
Tauranga Domain
14:05	Wellington			v			Taranaki
Porirua Park
16:35	Counties Manukau			v			Waikato
Navigation Homes Stadium