Adam Julian and Steven White wrap up all the action.
Canterbury: 72 (Nicole Purdom 2, Louise Blyde 2, Fiaali'i Solomona, Kelsyn McCook, Lucy Jenkins 2, Sammy Spence, Alex Williamson, Harriet Cochrane, Kyla Lynch-Brown tries; Poppy Baxter 6 cons) Hawke’s Bay Tui: 0. HT: 31-0
Hawke’s Bay had no answer for a rampant Canterbury at McLean Park, the visitors achieving their largest winning margin in any game against the Tui; they won 84-14 in 2023.
There were standouts across the park for Canterbury with hooker Nicole Purdom, a sports tutor at the New Zealand Institute of Sport (NZIS), who is usually a tackling machine able to rumble with the ball in hand. Centre Harriet Cochrane is a New Zealand Universities' player out of Christchurch Girls’ High School with a hard and direct style.
Kelsyn McCook was a whippersnapper at halfback, while Louise Blyde enjoys the distinct pace and swerve of her cousin, double Olympic Sevens-winning gold medallist, Michaelle Blyde.
It was a rough day for the Tui, but there was some grit from blindside flanker Makayla Cameron. She made 13 tackles and 28 carry metres. She plays her club footy for MAC, the Hawke’s Bay champions.
Waikato v Counties Manukau
Waikato: 27 (Grace Houpapa-Barrett 3, Keelah Bodle tries, Kaea Nepia 2 cons, pen) Counties Manukau Heat: 26 (Teuila Sotutu, Jaymie Kolose 2, Esther Afoa-Tilo tries; Hazel Tubic 3 cons). HT: 10-12
Chyna Hohepa, an original member of the revived Waikato women’s FPC team in 2012, celebrated her 50th appearance with a typically industrious performance in an exciting victory against Counties.
Counties struck first, taking advantage of Waikato being short-handed due to a yellow card. However, Waikato managed to score even while down a player, with Hohepa delivering a pass on the ground to a rampaging Grace Houpapa-Barrett, who stormed 25 metres. Just six minutes later, winger Keelah Bodle scored a try that echoed the style of her mother, Annaleah Rush, a Double Rugby World Cup-winning Black Fern.
The match saw sudden, significant momentum shifts, the next one occurring when Jaymie Kolose made a try-saving tackle on Montessa Tairakena that George Gregan would envy; two Black Ferns Sevens speedsters collided in a dramatic moment.
Outrageously, Kolose scored two quick tries before being yellow carded in the 62nd minute. This allowed Waikato to rally around their sturdy, straightforward forward play. Houpapa-Barrett completed her hat trick in the 63rd minute, marking her 29th try for Waikato, which puts her just two shy of the record held by Black Ferns legend Stacey Waaka.
Waikato's strategy wasn't solely about powerful forwards; centre Hinemaringi Scott, a New Zealand Under-18 Sevens representative, was exceptional at times. The sixth and final lead change was a Kaea Nepia penalty.
This encounter might not be the last between these two teams this season. Waikato enjoyed an ascendancy in scrums and lineouts, but Counties is a threat out wide and boasts athletic and determined loose forwards.
Manawatū v Bay of Plenty
Manawatū: 45 (Wikitoria Doyle 2, Rangimarie Sturmey, Kahurangi Sturmey, Briana Wallace, Jacinta Windsor, El Febrey tries; Leah Brough 5 con) Bay of Plenty: 31 (Sela Moata’ane, Luca Connor, Jordyn Tihore, Manawa Rogers, Jade Wharemate tries; Hope Parata-Kingi 2 con, Sapphire Tapsell con) HT: 33-14.
The Manawatū Cyclones bounced back from their opening round defeat with a clinical win on the road to ignite their campaign. The Cyclones raced to a 26-0 lead after as many minutes, and it was seemingly game over at that point. They also had their 4-try bonus point in the bag.
The home team came back with two converted tries to trail 14-33 at the break and then added a third to Jade Wharemate to trail 21-33 after 50 minutes.
Manawatū struck back almost immediately and then the Volcanix lost first five and goal-kicker Hope Parata-Kingi to a yellow card. A try to Manawatū prop El Febrey settled things, before two consolation tries to the Volcanix.
Otaki sisters Kauhrangi (No.8) and Rangimarie (first-five) Sturmey were two of Manawatu’s other scorers, while reserves Te Maia Sweetman (year 13 and co-captain) and Malina Leatherby-Millar (year 12) will likely be lining up for Manukura this coming Wednesday against Wellington’s St Mary’s College in the Hurricanes girls' final. Bay of Plenty fullback Cheyne Copeland is a former St Mary’s College Condor 7s and Top 4 winner.
North Harbour Hibiscus v Taranaki Whio
North Harbour: 36 (Oceane Donnelley, Ellie Harrison, Rialani Onesemo-Tuilaepa, Holly Williams, Talei Kidd tries; Ella Henderson 4 con, pen) Taranaki: 12 (Danielle Muggeridge, Mereana Anderson tries; Rosie Moffitt con). HT: 22-0
North Harbour were on song early in earning their maiden win of the campaign. The Hibiscus were focused and controlled in their attack, building a lead. Their forwards set the tone early when busy hooker Oceane Donnelly scored after five minutes. Fullback Ellie Harrison and first five Ella Henderson combined for their second a few minutes later. One more try followed to prop Rialani Onesemo-Tuilaepa before halftime and Henderson kicked a penalty with the last play of the first half.
For Taranaki, an improved performance from last week, coming back into the contest in the second half and scoring tries through second-five Danielle Muggeridge and substitute Mereana Anderson.
But Taranaki’s set-pieces often struggled throughout and that is an area they will need to improve in the coming weeks to be competitive.
There was no further scoring for almost 20 minutes into the second half, before an intercept and 20 metre dash to score under the posts by Hibiscus midfielder Holly Williams sealed the win.
Wellington Pride v Otago Spirit
Otago Spirit: 32 (Jamie Church 3, Abigail Paton, Greer Muir, Naomi Sopoaga tries; Paton 1 con) Wellington Pride: 26 (Keira Su’a-Smith, Litia Bulicakau, Harmony Kautai tries; Arene Landon-Lane 2 con). HT: 12-7.
Wellington scored a late try to create a possible grandstand finish, but Otago held on for a deserved victory. Otago won six tries to four, but could land only one conversion.
The individual performer of the match was Otago left wing Jamie Church who flew in for a second half hat trick. After Otago had led 12-7 at halftime, Church extended the lead with her first try following a careless Wellington turnover and runaway.
The Pride scored next through centre Litia Bulicaukau, but Church broke the weak tackling of four combined defenders to score her second.
Otago were well in control when Wellington-raised centre Naomi Sopoaga ran clear. Wellington left wing Harmony Kautai replied from the next restart, but Church showed up on the right wing to score her third and best try of the day.
Earlier, Wellington established scrum and lineout dominance but couldn’t contain Otago’s commitment with ball in hand, first five Abigail Paton threading through more poor defence, then evergreen flanker Greer Muir couldn’t believe her luck when she ghosted 50 metres to make it 12-0.
Wellington fullback Keira Su’a-Smith’s try in reply kept them in touch at halftime.
In a milestone, prop Isla Pringle played her 50th game for Otago.
Northland v Tasman
Northland: 25 (Kredence Brown 2, Stacey Tupe, Hikitia Wikaira, Tyler Nankivell tries) Tasman: 7 (Iva Sauira try; Bethan Manner con) HT: 25-0
In heavy conditions at Semenoff Stadium, Northland secured its second consecutive victory against the visiting Mako.
The hosts' larger forwards quickly imposed their dominance, with Kystral Murray, injury cover for the Black Ferns Rugby World Cup campaign, eager to make an impact from the start. However, it was fellow prop Kredence Brown who stole the spotlight by scoring two tries. Celebrating her 15th appearance for the team last Saturday, she earned her blazer and showed no signs of slowing down during a productive hour on the field.
Captain from Kaikohe Hikitia Wikaira was effective as always, making 15 tackles and scoring a try. Second five Stacey Tupe contributed 17 tackles, along with her attacking prowess and a try. Opeside Nora Maaka powered through 30 tackles, most of which came in the second half as Tasman mounted a dogged rally.
Tasman hooker Jett Hayward, who represented the USA at the last Rugby World Cup, showcased her grit with some bustling charges in the second half. Lock Brooklyn Logan, from Waimea Old Boys, was named Tasman Rookie of the Year in 2022, while Iva Sauira has played for Fijian Drua in Super Rugby W.