Waikato, Canterbury and Manawatū will be joined by either Counties Manukau or Auckland, who clash next Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash.
Waikato: 15 (Lela Ieremia 2 tries, Kaea Nepia con, pen) Manawatū Cyclones: 10 (Ngano Tavake, Waimarie Rauhina tries) HT: 7-0
Waikato retained the JJ Stewart Trophy, eclipsing a stubborn Manawatū with an 80th-minute try in the corner to winger Lela Ieremia, her second of the match. The Melville product has featured for the Black Ferns XV.
From a scrum inside the Cyclones 22, the hosts earnestly rumbled up the middle, gaining vital ground as Manawatū fatigued. A penalty advantage was signalled for Waikato, and with a free swing, they hit the short side. Three swift passes created space for Ieremia, who calmly finished. It was a slick execution under pressure, following a torrential downpour that turned Memorial Park in Cambridge into a quagmire.
It was a hearty forward slog. There were typically industrious performances from hooker Waikato Grace Houpapa-Barrett and locks Leomie Kloppers and Logan Hauraki. However, the pick of the lower numbers might have been Chiefs Manawa blindside Leata Puni-Lio, who ploughed through a mountain of work and made headway where others struggled. She has won 17 of her 20 matches in a Waikato jersey. Second- five-eighths Rina Paraone toiled manfully in midfield.
Manawatū will be heartened by their defence and ability to hang in. Ngano Tavake scored just her fourth try in seven seasons, while Waimarie Rauhina is a loan player from Whanganui. For the Cyclones, there were valiant efforts from openside Elinor-Plum-King and No.8 Rangimarie Sturmey. There was little chance for the backs to shine.
Three of Waikato’s five games in 2025 have been decided by less than a converted try, with Waikato winning twice and securing two losing bonus points against Auckland.
Northland Kauri: 29 (Bailey-Rae Edwards, Krystal Murray, Timara Leaf, Terai Elia, Lily Murray-Wihongi tries; Murray con; Tyler Nankivell con) Wellington Pride: 24 (Harmony Kautai, Sanita Levave, Lavinia Lea, Keiana Roffey tries; Arene Landon-Lane con). HT: 12-12.
The Northland Kauri went back-to-back against the Wellington Pride to earn their spot in the Championship Final.
Northland picked up from where they left off last week, an hour up the road at Kaikohe, by running in two tries inside the first 20 minutes to fullback Bailey-Rae Edwards and prop Krystal Murray and establishing a decisive lead in a tightly fought game.
The Pride clawed their way back to 12-12 by halftime, after left wing Harmony Kautai profited from a poor clearance and veteran lock Sanita Levave crossed at the end of the spell after Northland had seen yellow for a deliberate infringement.
Wellington started the second much better than the first as schoolgirl Keiana Roffey scored her fourth try of the campaign soon after the resumption, but they let their momentum slip as the hosts punched in three tries from the 55th to 70th minutes. Replacement back Timara Leaf, blindside Terai Elia and lock Lily Murray-Wihongi all scored as they took a 29-17 lead.
Prop Lavinia Lea scored for the Pride as full-time approached, but the last throw of the dice to get to extra-time or even snatch the win came up short.
For the Pride, they will be wondering how to get out of the Championship Division, and it's back to the drawing board for the 2026 season.
Otago Spirit: 31 (Abigail Paton, Sarah Jones, Jamie Church, Naomi Sopoaga, Greer Muir tries; Georgia Cormick 2, Jones con), North Harbour Hibiscus: 22 (Ellie Harrison 2, Manutala’aho Huni-Po’ese, Ella Henderson tries; Henderson con). HT: 14-7.
The Otago Spirit are not a side to die wondering. Their positive, fluid style of rugby paid off against the North Harbour Hibiscus and ensured their travel plans next weekend will be on local roads only.
The Spirit were all over North Harbour throughout much of the game and led 14-0 late in the first half after tries to first-five Abigail Paton and flanker Sarah Jones. However, Otago soon lost their composure and conceded two late yellow cards and the Hibiscus scored through prop Manutala’aho Huni-Po’ese to make it 14-7 at the turnaround.
Next it was the turn of the Hibiscus to lose a player to a yellow card, followed by a clutch try to prolific wing Jamie Church and then another to centre Naomi Sopoaga and it was more comfortable at 26-7 for the home team. No.8 Greer Muir then scored for them and surely it was safe. Harbour hung in there and first five Ellie Harrison and fullback Ella Henderson kept them in touch but they ran out of time.
Otago also lost a third player to a yellow card late in the match, while as well as disciplinary matters, Otago will be sweating on the fitness of hard-working Leila Hill who departed injured.
Bay of Plenty Volcanix: 62 (Manawa Rogers, Dani Irihei 2, Te Urupounamu McGarvey, LukaConnor, Te Kihora Kuka, Kiki Tahere, Ora Williams, Jordyn Tihore, Sela Moata'ane tries; Hope Parata-Kingi 5 con; Kokako Raki con) Hawke’s Bay Tui: 17 (Hinemoa Hubbard 2, Makayla Cameron tries; Cassie Siataga con) HT: 24-5
The Bay of Plenty Volcanix won the right be called the Bay in the Farah Palmer Cup with a comfortable win over the Hawke’s Bay Tui.
The win keeps the Tui winless and rooted to the foot of the Premiership table, confirming relegation-bound status in 2026 with a round to play, to be replaced by either Otago or Northland.
With the spectre of the drop hanging over both teams, Bay of Plenty started the match strongly and scored three tries inside the first 20 minutes, through prop Te Urupounamu McGarvey, openside flanker Te Kihora Kuka and industrious hooker Luka Connor. Hawke’s Bay got themselves into the game, and second five Hinemoa Hubbard crossed for their first try. However, Bay of Plenty scored their bonus point try right on halftime through wing Kiki Tahare.
There was no coming back for Hawke’s Bay after left wing Manawa Rogers came back from the sin-bin and crossed 10 minutes into the second half, and they added another three unanswered tries, including two to halfback Dani Irihei, before Hawke’s Bay’s second to replacement halfback Makayla Cameron after an assist by Hubbard, who works for the Wairoa District Council. Bay of Plenty then added two more to finish soundly. The Tui scored at the end through Hubbard, her second.
Canterbury: 32 (Lialanie Muamua 3, Penalty Try, Louise Blyde, Amy Milnes tries) Auckland: 19 (Eloise Blackwell, Levonah Motuliki, Hollyrae Mete-Renata tries; Emacyn Ieremia 2 cons) HT: 12-5
Canterbury rallied from a twelve-point deficit to conquer Auckland at Eden Park, likely securing a home semi-final. Although they trail Manawatū by one point in the Premiership standings, the Red and Blacks will host Bay of Plenty in Christchurch next Saturday, a match they are heavily favoured to win.
Auckland started strong in this contest, scoring two impressive tries. Halfback Emacyn Ieremia and dynamic winger Levonah Motuliki broke through the defence before captain Eloise Blackwell dotted down. Then Tafu Bason (13 tackles), roaming in the wider channels, fended off her opponent and assisted Motuliki, marking her fifth try of 2025.
Gradually, Canterbury clawed their way back. Six minutes before halftime, Lialanie Muamua transformed into Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, steamrolling three defenders to score in the corner.
Canterbury dominated the second half, using their rolling maul to apply significant pressure on the hosts.
The visitors earned a penalty try, and after Auckland received a yellow card for a lineout drive infringement, Canterbury took control. Hooker Nicole Purdom had a standout performance, completing accurate lineouts, making 21 tackles, and gaining 53 meters with possession. The Canterbury loose forwards - Neve Anglesey, Lucy Jenkins, and Fiaali'i Solomona - combined for 49 tackles and excelled at the breakdown.
Canterbury added two more tries from their maul, with Louise Blyde and Amy Milnes benefiting. Auckland managed to pull it back to 27-19, but in the final minute, Muamua intercepted the ball and sprinted 35 metres to put the cherry on top.