Eventful day for Gapper

Canterbury wing Te Rauoriwa Gapper scored a double and walked away from a sickening head clash with a smile as the defending Farah Palmer Cup champions made it two big wins in as many weeks.

Gapper crossed for two of Canterbury’s seven tries as they beat Auckland 45-12 at Eden Park in week two of the women’s premiership.

Counties Manukau are the only other unbeaten side of the six in the top bracket, after they beat Manawatu 43-14 in a crossover match.

Canterbury again showed their class after leading 19-7 at halftime over Auckland.

Gapper’s tries were both in the first half. Canterbury’s only hiccup happened late in the match when Gapper chimed in off her left wing and was met by a shuddering Auckland front-on tackle with both women clashing heads.

Gapper was down and there was immediate concern for her welfare as she received medical attention, but she rose to her feet and walked off with assistance.

In Wellington, the Pride opened their account in a thriller, beating Bay of Plenty Volcanix

32-29.

Centre Bernadette Robertson scored the winning try for Wellington with three minutes left, after BOP looked to have sealed it themselves.

Left wing Autumn Rain Stephens-Daly scored in the corner to put BOP up 29-27, before Robertson’s match-winner when the Pride regained possession from the kickoff.

As the championship sides made their first appearance of

2019, Hawke’s Bay had an impressive start at home with a

64-31 win over Northland.