Waikato’s quick shield turnaround

Waikato don’t have long to enjoy their Ranfurly Shield victory celebrations.

In just four days time, they’ll put the Log o’ Wood on the line against Hawke’s Bay on Thursday night in Hamilton.

Waikato captured the Shield for the 11th time in the union’s history yesterday, after stunning Taranaki 33-19 in New Plymouth with a first-half blitz, where they scored five tries.

They shot to a 33-7 halftime advantage and despite being held scoreless in the second half, it didn’t matter as their resolute defence largely kept Taranaki contained.

Taranaki hit back with two tries within the opening nine minutes of the second half to cut Waikato’s lead to 33-19, but they couldn’t add to that.

Waikato hadn’t offered much in the first three games of the Mitre 10 Cup to suggest they were a threat for the Shield, losing to Manawatu¯ , North Harbour, and Auckland.

Wednesday’s first win of the season, against Wellington (43-31), gave Waikato a stack of confidence and that carried over to the Shield challenge.

If Waikato can retain the Shield against Hawke’s Bay, their remaining defences for

2018 will be against Southland (September 29) and Otago (October 13).

Auckland continued their fine start to the Mitre 10 Cup under first-year coach Alama Ieremia on Friday at Eden Park, dispatching Tasman 36-10 in a top of the table premiership clash.

The results means Auckland, who won just three of 10 games last season, are flying high with four wins from four in the premiership section.

Auckland might be sitting pretty as the lone unbeaten team in either division, but the true test comes in their next match on Sunday when they travel south to face Canterbury in Christchurch.

Tasman, who have looked like premiership favourites in the early stages of the competition, turned in a lethargic performance that will have upset coach Leon MacDonald. It doesn’t get any easier for Tasman with Taranaki, who boast plenty of talent but have been inconsistent, next up.

Canterbury made it three wins on the bounce after overcoming a dogged Manawatu¯

34-23, with the Turbos having led 13-12 at halftime.

Otago snuck past Northland 27-23 in Dunedin for their second win in a week to jump to

second in the championship division.

Replacement prop Joe Apikotoa was Hawke’s Bay’s unlikely hero, scoring a try at the death as the Magpies prevailed 29-28 against the Steamers.

Counties Manukau kept Southland winless to start 2018, winning a high-scoring clash 43-26 in Invercargill. Southland have lost 15 straight matches with their last win coming almost two years ago on October 8, 2016 (39-31 against Northland).

Wellington moved to second on the premiership table after two late tries helped them beat North Harbour 35-23 in the capital yesterday.