allblacks.com and James Mortimer    02.Oct.2012

Thursday and Friday night saw to close encounters, as Waikato and Auckland opened up Round Eleven with tight home wins.


The Mooloo men defeated a Tasman side that has been impressive for most of the season 20-19, while Auckland managed to defeat the Steelers 22-18.

The closeness of scorelines didn't continue as Taranaki lined up for the final Ranfurly Shield challenge for the season, and held off the challenge of Manawatu 59-18, meaning that the Amber and Blacks become the first side in eight years to hold the Log o'Wood for the calendar.

Wellington beat North Harbour 34-28, and Hawke's Bay impressed with a 21-15 win over Otago, a round where all seven hosts were successful.

It was also a few days of action where all of the Championship teams proved to be ample opposition to their Premiership rivals.

Indeed, the only blowout was Canterbury's impressive 84-0 triumph over Southland, with the defending champions putting together one of the most complete halves of the campaign when they went to the sheds with a 49-0 halftime lead.