Counties, Canterbury on top

Canterbury has joined Counties Manukau at the top of the Farah Palmer Cup Premiership table thanks to a 48-12 win over the Manawatu¯ Cyclones.

The defending champions, who held a 29-0 halftime lead, conceded two second-half tries to the Cyclones yesterday but managed 19 second-half points of their own to secure their third win of the season.

The bonus point victory for the red-and-blacks promotes them to be tied with Counties on 17 competition points ahead of their clash in Christchurch on Sunday.

That match looks likely to decide who finishes on top of the Premiership table.

Counties Manukau temporarily moved to the outright top of the table on Saturday with a 39-8 victory over Otago in Dunedin.

Waikato, who also have three wins courtesy of their 45-14 trouncing of Auckland on Saturday, sit third on the premiership ladder with 15 points.

It’s Waikato’s second successive win against Auckland after claiming their first since the national women’s provincial

At a glance

❚ Bay of Plenty 73 Taranaki 0 (crossover).

❚ Hawke’s Bay 52 North Harbour 10 (Championship); Waikato 45 Auckland 14 (Premiership); Counties Manukau 39 Otago 8 (Championship).

❚ Wellington 88 Tasman 3 (Championship); Canterbury 48 Manawatu¯ 12 (Premiership). rugby competition began in 1999 just last October.

In the early game yesterday, the Wellington Pride cemented their place at the top of the championship table with an 88-3 thumping of the Tasman Mako.

The Pride, who held a 31-3 lead at halftime, put on 57 unanswered points in the second half.

Wellington’s third victory of the season took them to 16 competition points, two clear of the second-placed Hawkes Bay Tuis.

Hawke’s Bay beat North Harbour 52-10 in Napier on Saturday to record their third victory of the Championship.

On Friday, Bay of Plenty kicked off the round by gaining their first points of the season with a 73-0 demolition of Taranaki in Rotorua. Taranaki are the only side yet to register a victory in either division.

Farah Palmer Cup, round 4: Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday: