Round 2 of the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) was highlighted by Canterbury narrowly retaining the JJ Stewart Memorial Trophy against Waikato.
Canterbury held onto the challenge trophy for the 20th time with a gusty 10-7 win over Waikato at Rugby Park in Christchurch on Sunday, getting on the board after an opening round loss.
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In driving rain and swirling wind, it was a messy forward slog, with both teams struggling to build momentum.
Canterbury kicked the only penalty of the first half after a ruck infringement by the visitors in the seventh minute. Otherwise, Waikato went closest to scoring a try, denied in the ninth minute with a held-up call that went against them.
Waikato hooker Grace Houpapa-Barrett was her typical bustling self and was rewarded for her industry with a try on the halftime siren for a 7-3 lead.
Taylor Simpson was dangerous in midfield for Canterbury, who took the lead on the hour mark when Nicole Purdon threw a dummy that would have fooled Sherlock Holmes.
Waikato will rue a lack of discipline and accuracy and might feel aggrieved with the lack of reward from a superior scrum. Waikato and Canterbury games are typically close thrillers with the last the last six games decided by a converted try or less.
A try-saving tackle by Canterbury reserve Leanna Ryan on Kiriana Nolan in the 76th minute might be one of the most important moments of the season.
Loose forwards Neve Anglesey (19 tackles) and Laura Bayfield (23 tackles) were titans for Canterbury, while Mia Anderson was similarly robust for Waikato.
Canterbury face defending Premiership champions Auckland in another JJ Stewart defence in Christchurch on Saturday.
Bay of Plenty scored the last 21 points, including two tries from wing Kokako Raki, for a 26-12 victory over Northland at Whangarei’s Semenoff Stadium.
Momentum shifted dramatically in the 38th minute when a 50-metre intercept by Volcanix lock Jessie Wharekura snuffed out a promising attack from the hosts.
Northland did not concede before the break but in the second half were held scoreless as Kendra Renyolds and Holly Wratt-Groeneweg took control of the breakdown and Kelly Brazier was tactically astute.
Behind 18-12 with two minutes remaining, Northland had a chance of a late victory, but a diabolic clearance resulted in a penalty for offside play.
Former Black Fern Karli Faneva left the field in the 55th minute, returning for the final five minutes and scoring a crucial bonus-point try. Faneva is back in rugby after missing the best part of two years.
Black Ferns Rugby World Cup winner Kyrstal Murray produced an array of tricks, including a grubber for the opening try. Openside Nora Maaka made 17 tackles, and second-five Nia Sutherland is promising.
Counties Manukau flipped a 17-10 halftime deficit with a quartet of tries in 23 minutes to start the second half in a 36-32 win in Napier.
It was an eye-catching spectacle where the Heat will be disappointed with defensive lapses but showed they could lift to another level when required.
Centre Kataraina Enosa-Taifau was penetrating, Harono Te Iringa made an explosive impact from the bench. Hazel Tubic is a confident general and Japanese wing Yurita Shinno was a livewire.
Blindside Leah Tuhi was rampant for the Tui. Second-five Teilah Ferguson made a dozen tackles and several strong surges.
Reserve halfback Kahlia Awa sparked the hosts late revival with a 50-metre try and her usual vibrance.
In the Championship, North Harbour recorded their first win since 2022, while Wellington and Manawatū continued to set the pace.
A four-try Hibiscus blitz in 17 minutes blew Tasman away in the 46-5 rout, ending the Hibiscus’ eight-game losing streak at North Harbour Stadium.
The hosts forward pack piled into their work and halfback Hailey Beale cleared the ball like a bullet. Dayna Moon was illusive at second-five and distributed accurately. Former Northland rep Georgia Brierly is back after a long hiatus and dotted down twice.
Tsubasa Sasagawa stood up her opposite spectacularly a dozen minutes into the second half, while Fiaali'i Solomona fought gamely for Tasman and scored their only try in an ugly second half which saw three yellow cards dished out.
North Harbour’s competitive showings will put the championship on notice. Reserve wing Ursola Eteru finished with a flourish, scoring two tries.
North Harbour’s biggest win is 59-0 over Taranaki in 2018.
The Wellington Pride led Taranaki 21-0 at halftime in Hawera, before pulling clear in the second spell for a 61-7 win.
Halfback Milly Mackey scored two tries and kicked eight conversions for a record personal haul of 26 points.
Midfielders Shakira Baker and Monica Tagoai had powerhouse games in the midfield and the pack went well when it clicked into life, with senior forwards Jackie Patea-Fereti and Joanah Ngan-Woo each scoring tries.
Taranaki were flimsy at times in midfield but flankers Briana Poingdestre and Hayley Gabriel made more than 30 tackles combined.
Wellington hosts unbeaten Manawatū in a blockbuster Championship clash next Sunday at Porirua's Jerry Collins Stadium.
Manawatū made a sharp start, skipping out to a 19-0 lead in as many minutes, en route to a 47-12 victory in Palmerston North.
Rangimarie Sturmey was incisive, and Selica Winiata is making a mockery of her brief retirement last year. The Manawatū pack was efficient with hooker Jayme Nuku and lock Samantha Taylor to the fore.
Otago defended sternly for long periods, with Bella Rewiri-Wharerau topping the tackle count with 22. The Spirit won a penalty and a tighthead against the Manawatū scrum after being crushed in the first half.
Te Atawhai Campbell scored another late try, this time from past halfway.
FARAH PALMER CUP RESULTS - ROUND 2
PREMIERSHIP
Canterbury 10 (Nicole Purdom try; Abigail Paton pen, con) Waikato 7 (Grace Houpapa-Barrett, try, Chelsea Semple). HT: 3-7
Counties Manukau 36 (Kataraina Enosa-Taifau 2, Fau Sefo, Shyanne Thompson, Harono Te Iringa, Jaymie Kolose tries; Hazel Tubic 3 conversions) Hawke’s Bay 32 (Jaimee Robin, Leah Tuhi, Raedeen Blake, Kahlia Awa, Charlotte Tuliau tries; Krysten Cottrell penalty, 2 conversions). HT: 17-10
Bay of Plenty 26 (Grace Parata-Stewart, Kokako Raki 2, Karli Faneva, Kelly Brazier 2 pen) Northland 12 (Nia Sutherland, Holli O'Sullivan, Michella'e Stolz con). HT: 5-12
CHAMPIONSHIP
North Harbour 46 (Georgia Brierly 2, Mikayla Suluape, Moana -Malupo-Courtenay, Dayna Moon, Tsubasa Sasagawa, Ursola Eteru Fuailefau 2 tries; Suluape 3 con) Tasman 5 (Fiaali'i Solomona try). HT: 29-0
Wellington 61 (Monica Tagoai, Drenna Falaniko, Milly Mackey 2, Valini Vaka, Tess Woldring, Jackie Patea-Fereti, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Te Raukura Leafe tries; Mackey 8 con) Taranaki 7 (Hayley Gabriel try; Laura Claridge con). HT: 21-0
Manawatū 47 (Jayme Nuku, Selica Winiata, Wikitoria Doyle, Kahurangi Sturmey, Hollyrae Mete, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Alesha Williams tries; Selica Winiata 6 cons) Otago 12 (Oceana Campbell, Te Atawhai Campbell tries; Cheyenne Cunningham con). HT: 19-0