Cup semifinalists fall flat
North Harbour will feel good about their chances of a semifinal upset in the national provincial rugby championship.
The hosts at Albany ran in 10 tries to defeat a below-strength Taranaki 64-33 in a points-fest in the final round of the Mitre 10 Cup regular season.
Harbour will meet Canterbury away in one Premiership semifinal while Ranfurly Shield holders Taranaki will want better from their first-choice lineup when they host Tasman in the other playoff encounter.
North Harbour 64 (Tevita Li 5, Bryn Hall, Shaun Stevenson, Matt Duffie, Matt Vaega, James Parsons tries; Ben Volavola 5 con; Todd Doolan 2 con) Taranaki 33 (Declan O’Donnell, Jared Profitt, Ciarahn Matoe 2, Adrian Wyrill tries; Matoe 4 con). HT: 33-19.
Counties Manukau 52 (Joe Royal, Nigel Ah Wong 2, Orbyn Leger, Tim Nanai-Williams, Sam Henwood, Baden Kerr, Penalty try, tries; Stephen Donald 2 con; Luteru Laulala 2 con; Jimmy Tupou con) Tasman 30 (Timothy O’Malley, Ethan Blackadder, Levi Aumua, Alex Nankiville tries; O’Malley 2 con, 2 pen). HT: 19-22.
Bay of Plenty 36 (Chase Tiatia, Terrence Hepetema, Lalakai Foketi 2, Luke Campbell tries; Mike Delany 4 con, pen) Waikato 32 (Atu Moli, Sevu Reece, Pita Ahki, Laghlan McWhannell, Loni Uhila tries; Ahki con, pen; Sevu Reece con;). HT: 19-12.
Canterbury 32 (Braydon Ennor, Caleb Makene, Jack Stratton 2 tries; Richie Mo’unga 3 con, 2 pen) Auckland 27 (Vince Aso, Joe Ravouvou, TJ Faiane tries; Jono Hickey 2 con, 2 pen, Harry Plummer con). HT: 12-13.
Taranaki 46 (Waisake Naholo 2, Seta Tamanivalu 2, Charle Ngatai, Kylem O’Donnell, Adrian Wyrill tries, Marty McKenzie 4 con, pen) Manawatu¯ 25 (Jamie Booth, Ambrose Curtis tries, Otere Black 2 pen, Jade Te Rure 2 con, try). HT: 27-6.
Hawke’s Bay 36 (Mason Emerson 2, Gareth Evans, Brad Weber, Richard Buckman, Jonah Lowe tries; Ihaia West 3 con) Manawatu¯ 31 (Lewis Marshall, Tim Cadwallader, Jason Emery, Jade Te Rure tries; Jade Te Rure 3 con, pen, Jason Emery con). HT: 17-0.
Otago 43 (Mitchell Scott, Sio Tomkinson, Tei Walden, Jona Nareki, Latu Vaeno, Jonah Aoina tries; Josh Ioane 5 con, 1 pen) Southland 19 (Lewis Ormond 2, James Schrader tries; Scott Eade 1 con, Greg Dyer 1 con). HT: 22-5.
Wellington 36 (Thomas UmagaJensen, Asafo Aumua 2, Alex Fidow, Julian Savea tries, Jackson GardenBachop try, 3 con) Northland 18 (Jordan Hyland, Jack Goodhue tries, Dan Hawkins con, 2 pen). HT: 12-10.
Standings, premiership: Taranaki 42 points, Canterbury 41, North Harbour 37, Tasman 31, Counties-Manukau 27, Auckland 18, Waikato 17.
Championship: Wellington 47, BoP 28, Otago 26, Northland 25, Manawatu¯ 23, Hawke’s Bay 11, Southland 1. Premiership semifinals:
Canterbury v North Harbour, 5.05pm, Saturday, Christchurch
Taranaki v Tasman, 7.35pm, Saturday, New Plymouth Championship semifinals:
Wellington v Northland, 7.35pm, Friday, Wellington
Bay of Plenty v Otago, 2.35pm, Saturday, Tauranga