On Friday, Counties Manukau took down the league-leading Wellington Lions. On Saturday, Otago said 'Hold my Speight's'.
Otago scored seven tries as they ended the Tasman Mako's bid for an undefeated season and seven-match National Provincial Championship (NPC) winning streak with a 47-31 victory at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.
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The victory kept alive Otago's quarterfinals hopes, pulling within two points of the last spot but will need another win in Round 9 and Counties Manukau and Auckland losses to sneak into the top-eight.
Tasman, who rested several front-line players ahead of their mid-week Ranfurly Shield defence, remained second, two points behind Wellington, but still with a match in hand.
Otago trailed 31-21 with 20 minutes remaining but scored four tries and 26 unanswered points, including a crucial penalty try in the 77th minute that sealed the win and resulted in Tasman prop Sione Mafi being yellow-carded.
Reserve halfback Nathan Hastie started the comeback, before lock Will Stodart went over in the 71st minute to retake the lead. Mafi pulled down a 5m lineout drive, resulting in the penalty try, before reserve lock Fabian Holland iced the victory.
Earlier, Otago had taken a 21-10 lead when Hudson Creighton scored just after the break, but the young Tasman side surged, with tries to Louie Chapman, Johnny Lee and Maloni Kunawave in a nine-minute blitz to lead by 10.
Otago complete their regular season against Northland in Whangarei on Friday (kick-off 7.05pm), while Tasman continue their 'Storm Week', putting the Log o' Wood up for grabs against Auckland in Nelson on Wednesday (kick-off 7.05pm).
Hawke's Bay have put a big dent in Auckland's top-eight aspirations and boosted their chances of hosting a home quarterfinal with a 36-35 victory at the death at Napier's McLean Park on Saturday.
Fullback Harry Godfrey kicked a sideline conversion in injury-time to steal the four points after trailing by 13 with only minutes remaining.
The Big City Boys had the game, but they have made a habit of giving away results all season through bad luck and, in this case, ill-discipline.
Godfrey had made just two from five kicks before his successful match-winner, but calmly stepped up and converted Ben O’Donnell’s 82nd minute try.
It was the Magpies’ second try in five minutes, as they charged back from two scores down after Vailini Ekuasi’s try with 11 minutes to play looked to have put Auckland out of reach.
The drama came early in the second half as Auckland’s Zarn Sullivan and Sika Pole were sent off for a dangerous lift on Sam Smith leaving them with 13 players and Hawke's Bay took advantage.
The Magpies are away to the Lions at Sky Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 4.35pm), while Auckland will challenge for the Ranfurly Shield for the first time since 2015 in the mid-week matchup.
Bay of Plenty ran in eight tries in a 53-13 massacre of Northland at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday that confirmed a quarterfinal berth.
It continued Northland's sometimes chaotic season of big effort, the odd win, mixed with big losses, while the Steamers have proved to be one of the more consistent teams, especially with Blues hooker Kurt Eklund leading the way and scoring once again.
Lucas Cashmore maintained his growth as a player with a try, five conversions and a penalty for 18 points and sevens rep Leroy Carter crossed for a try and Chiefs lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi nabbed two.
Bay of Plenty head to Eden Park for their season finale against Auckland next Sunday (kick-off 4.35pm), while Northland are at home to Otago on Friday.
Otago 47 (Finn Hurley, Christian Lio-Willie, Hudson Creighton, Nathan Hastie, Will Stodart, Fabian Holland tries; Penalty try; Cameron Millar 5 con) Tasman 31 (Jack Gray, Nic Sauira, Louie Chapman, Johnny Lee, Maloni Kunawave tries; Cooper Grant 3 con). HT: 14-10
Hawke's Bay 36 (Kienan Higgins, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Freedom Vaha'akolo, Tyrone Thompson, Sam Wye, Ben O'Donnell tries; Hayden Godfrey 3 con) Auckland 35 (Xavi Taele, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Millennium Sanerivi, Vaiolini Ekuasi tries; Zarn Sullivan 3 con, 3 pen). HT: 10-18
Bay of Plenty 53 (Kurt Eklund, Filipe Vakasiuola, Lucas Cashmore, Naitoa Ah Kuoi 2, Leroy Carter, Fehi Fineanganofo, Cole Forbes tries; Lucas Cashmore 5 con, pen) Northland 13 (Rob Cobb, Jordan Trainor tries; Rivez Reihana pen). HT: 27-3
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