The Air NZ cup competition goes past the halfway mark with the usual suspects leading the pack, but with the refreshing addition of Bay of Plenty and Southland in particular, both of whom are playing some great rugby. The impending clash between the Steamers and Southland is increasingly looking like one to relish.
Canterbury continue to set the pace in the Air New Zealand Cup round robin stage after week 8. Their four tries to one win over Taranaki emphasising their position as the number one provincial team. Meanwhile, Auckland have slipped up, going down narrowly by 16-14 at North Harbour and are starting to look off the pace. Southland showed good form to beat Counties Manukau by 14 points to 6 and stay in the hunt just above Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay.
BAY OF PLENTY 24 TASMAN 13
- Thurs 17 Sept, 7.35pm at Bay Park Stadium, Mt
- Maunganui
- Bay of Plenty
- Tries: Phil Burleigh, Junior Poleuligaga, Colin Bourke.
- Conversions: Mike Delany (3).
- Penalty: Delany.
- Tasman
- Try: Alex Ainley.
- Conversion: Andrew Goodman.
- Penalties: Goodman (2).
- Halftime: 7-3 (Bay of Plenty).
SOUTHLAND 14 COUNTIES MANUKAU 6
- Thurs 17 Sept, 7.35pm at Bayer Growers Stadium,
- Pukekohe
- Southland
- Try: Pehi Te Whare.
- Penalties: Robbie Robinson (3).
- Counties Manukau
- Penalties: Tim Nanai-Williams (2).
- Halftime: 8-6 (Southland).
CANTERBURY 29 TARANAKI 17 (RS)
- Fri 18 Sept, 7.35pm at AMI Stadium, Christchurch
- Canterbury
- Tries: Sean Maitland (2), Tu Umaga-Marshall, James Paterson.
- Conversions: Stephen Brett (3).
- Penalty: Brett.
- Taranaki
- Try: Shayne Austin.
- Penalties: Willie Ripia (4).
- Halftime: 14-14.
WAIKATO 23 WELLINGTON 18
- Fri 18 Sept, 7.35pm at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
- Waikato
- Tries: Latu Talakai, Sosene Anesi.
- Conversions: Callum Bruce (2).
- Penalties: Bruce (3).
- Wellington
- Penalties: Daniel Kirkpatrick (6).
- Halftime: 20-6 (Waikato).
NORTH HARBOUR 16 AUCKLAND 14
- Sat 19 Sept, 2.35pm at Eden Park, Auckland
- North Harbour
- Try: Andrew Mailei.
- Conversion: Mike Harris.
- Penalties: Harris (3).
- Auckland
- Try: Paul Williams.
- Penalties: Daniel Bowden (2), Ash Moeke.
- Halftime: 11-6 (Auckland).
HAWKE’S BAY 32 OTAGO 10
- Sat 19 Sept, 4.35pm at McLean Park, Napier
- Hawke’s Bay
- Tries: Israel Dagg (2), Jason Shoemark (2).
- Conversions: Matt Berquist (3).
- Penalties: Berquist (2).
- Otago
- Try: Paul Grant.
- Conversion: Glenn Dickson.
- Penalty: Michael Witt.
- Halftime: 25-3 (Hawke’s Bay).
NORTHLAND 25 MANAWATU 18
- Sun 20 Sept, 2.35pm at FMG Stadium, Palmerston
- North
- Northland
- Tries: Rene Ranger, Jared Payne, Joel McKenty.
- Conversions: Lachie Munro (2).
- Penalties: Munro (2).
- Manawatu
- Penalties: Isaac Thompson (6).
- Halftime: 12-10 (Manawatu).
