Auckland: 48 (Braxton Sorenson-McGee, Levonah Motuliki, Daynah Nankivell 2, Le'Oxeayn Maiu'u 2, Sulieti Halafihi, Eloise Blackwell; Sorenson-McGee 4 con) Northland: 17 (Arlia MacCarthy, Anthea Jane Young, Lily Murray-Wihongi tries; Tyler Nankivell con) HT: 19-12
Reigning Premiership champions Auckland opened the season at Eden Park with a convincing win against the 2023 championship winners Northland.
The Kauri took it to Auckland initially and led 12-7 after the opening quarter. Auckland lost Rori Wood to a yellow card in the 25th minute but Northland could not capitalise; Auckland scored undermanned.
There were 17 debutants across both squads with Storm winger Levonah Motuliki especially eye-catching. Nicknamed ‘Jet” Motuliki played New Zealand Secondary Schools netball and sevens in Japan. Prop Jorja Fruen was another youngster who flourished. Daynah Nankivell was rampant in midfield.
Northland was missing some big names, including Black Ferns Krystal Murray and Charmine Smith. They can take heart from their opening. Arlia MacCarthy scored the first try of the season with a searing outside break. Lilly Wikitoria Rogers ran powerfully and made 16 tackles. The same can be said about Lilly Murray-Wihongi (13 tackles).
Counties Manukau: 47 (Leitisia Vehekite, Jaymie Kolose 2, Harono Te Iringa, Katarina Enosa-Taifau, Mele Latu’ila, Hazel Tubic tries; Tubic 6 con) Canterbury: 24 (Fia Laikong 2, Kilisitina Vea, Winnie Palamo; Abigail Paton con, Caitlin Sears con) HT: 21-5
The Heat beat Canterbury for the first time since 2015 which was also the last time Canterbury started the season with a defeat.
Counties halfback Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu scored 17 points in the 52-15 onslaught in 2015. The former Black Ferns captain didn’t contribute to the scoresheet in this encounter but helped spearhead an outstanding effort from a sizable, mobile pack and a backline eager to attack from anywhere.
Canterbury struggled to contain the direct approach from the Heat with flanker Leitisia Vehekite, prop Ti Tauasosi (12 tackles) and No.8 Harono Te Iringa a hive of activity.
Midfield debutant Shoshanah Seumanutafa combined 17 tackles with repeat breaks that gave outsides Jaymie Kolose and Enosa Taifau plenty of chance to stretch. Rugby World Cup-winning Black Fern Hazel Tubic played with authority in the ten jersey.
No.8 Laura Bayfield (14 tackles, 48 meters run) and winger Fia Laikong were the best of the visitors who suffered just their fifth defeat in the last 57 games. Canterbury lost back-to-back games to start 2015.
Waikato: 42 (Montessa Tairakena, Violet Hapi-Wise, Grace Houpapa-Barrett 3, Kiriana Nolan, Lela Ieremia; Chelsea Semple 2 con pen) Bay of Plenty: 26 (Jordyn Tihore 2, Grace Parata-Stewart, Payton Takimoana tries; Kelly Brazier 3 con) HT: 27-7
Waikato always led against brave Bay of Plenty who secured a valuable four try bonus point. Both hookers had a field day. Debutant Jordyn Tihore scored two tries in a lively start to her career. Former Black Fern Grace Houpapa-Barrett was even better for Waikato with three tries, accurate throwing and trademark hustle.
Waikato’s inside backs Violet Hapi-Wise, Kirana Nolan and Chelsea Semple combined superbly with Hapi-Wise scoring a try that’s an early contender for the best of the season. Bay of Plenty flankers Holly Wratt-Groeneweg and Kendra Reynolds made 28 tackles combined.
Wellington: 51 (Angelica Schwencke 2, Drenna Falaniko 2, Harmony Kautai 3, Milly Mackey, Tess Woldring tries; Mackey con Anyis Landon-Lane 2 con) Tasman: 12 (Avau Filimaua, Lucy Brown; Sarah Jones) HT: 22-12
Wellington snapped an eight-game losing streak holding Tasman scoreless in the second half. Harmony Kautai emulated the 2023 feat of Justine McGregor in scoring a hat-trick for Wellington in the opening round.
Angelica Schwencke was a powerhouse, halfback Milly Mackey vibrant and Sophie Irving a workhorse making 18 tackles. Among Tasman’s best were hooker Jett Hayward and centre Sarah Jones.
Otago: 24 (Zoe Whatarau, Sherre Hume 2, Georgia Cormick, Te Atawhai Campbell tries; Hume 2 con) North Harbour: 21 (Izzy East, Mikayla Suluape, Rialani Onesemo-Tuilaepa tries; Suluape 3 con)
Te Atawhai Campbell pulled a rabbit out of a hat to help the Otago Spirit deny North Harbour a shock victory in Albany
Down 21-17 with time up on the clock, the 18-year-old replacement-back stepped off the right foot, found a hole, and zoomed 40 metres denying the Hibiscus their first win against Otago in eight years.
North Harbour steadied their scrum, toughened their defense and took the lead when replacement Rialani Onesemo-Tuilaepa crashed over with seven minutes remaining.
The Hibiscus – with 14 players on debut – defended well to keep the Spirit threats quiet early on. Winger Oceana Campbell’s footwork finally opened the hosts' defense and Zoe Frood scored in her 50th game.
The Spirit lost captain Julia Gorinski after 30 minutes due to a nasty cut on the knee, and Jamie Church made a try-saving tackle as North Harbour grew in confidence.
Sherre Hume was outstanding with two tries for Otago. Tsubasa Sasagawa, Isabella East Mikayla Suluape and Demielle Onesemo are names to keep an eye on in the North Harbour roster this season.
Manawatū: 86 (Alesha Williams 2, Molly Scuffil-McCabe 3, Jayme Nuku, Ngano Tavake, Wikitoria Doyle, Elinor-Plum King, Kahurangi Sturmey, Kaia Walker-Waitoa 2, Patricia Heihei, Holly Powell; Maia Davis 8 con) Taranaki: 7 (Louise Blyde try, Laura Claridge con)
The Cyclones' biggest win was 88-0 against Tasman in 2020. When the Cyclones turned with a 55-0 advantage at halftime that score was very much under threat. To their credit, Taranaki battled manfully. Centre Louise Blyde made a dozen tackles and scored a try lock Gemma Gardner-Harrison made 21 tackles.
Manawatū will be one of the favourites to win the championship. Openside Elinor-Plum King continued her fine form from Super Rugby Aupiki, Maia Davis has trained with the New Zealand Sevens, Molly Scuffil-McCabe is a former Irish international and Kahurangi Sturmey was damaging.