Canterbury: 10 (Nicole Purdom try; Abigail Paton pen, con) Waikato: 7 (Grace Houpapa-Barrett, try, Chelsea Semple)
Canterbury retained the JJ Stewart Memorial Trophy for the 20th time with a gusty 10-7 win over Waikato at Rugby Park in Christchurch.
In driving rain and swirling wind, it was a messy forward slog with both teams struggling to build momentum.
Canterbury kicked the only penalty of the first half after a ruck infringement by the visitors in the seventh minute.
Otherwise, Waikato went closest to scoring a try almost certainly denied in the ninth minute with a held-up call that went against them.
Waikato hooker Grace Houpapa-Barrett was her typical bustling self and was rewarded for her industry with a try on the halftime serin.
Taylor Simpson was dangerous in midfield for Canterbury who took the lead on the hour mark when Nicole Purdon threw a dummy that would fool Sherlock Holmes.
Waikato will rue a lack of discipline and accuracy and might feel aggrieved with the lack of reward from a superior scrum. A try-saving tackle by Canterbury reserve Leanna Ryan on Kiriana Nolan in the 76th minute might be one of the most important moments of the season.
Loose forwards Neve Anglesey (19 tackles) and Laura Bayfield (23 tackles) were titans for Canterbury. Mia Anderson was similarly robust for Waikato.
Waikato and Canterbury games are typically close thrillers with the last the last six games decided by a converted try or less.
Canterbury faces Premiership champions Auckland in another JJ Stewart defense next Saturday.
North Harbour: 46 (Georgia Brierly 2, Mikayla Suluape, Moana -Malupo-Courtenay, Dayna Moon, Tsubasa Sasagawa, Ursola Eteru Fuailefau 2 tries; Suluape 3 con) Tasman: 5 (Fiaali'i Solomona try) HT: 29-0
A Hibiscus blitzkrieg blew Tasman away. Four tries in 17 minutes earned North Harbour their first win since 2022; an eight-game losing streak banished at North Harbour Stadium.
The hosts forward pack piled into their work and halfback Hailey Beale cleared the ball like a bullet. Dayna Moon was illusive at second five and distributed accurately and fullback Mikayla Suluape is a recipient of the Don Oliver Youth Sport Foundation scholarship. Former Northland rep Georgia Brierly is back after a long hiatus and dotted down twice.
Tsubasa Sasagawa stood up her opposite spectacularly a dozen minutes into the second half while Fiaali'i Solomona fought gamely for Tasman and scored their only try in an ugly second half which saw three yellow cards dished out.
North Harbour’s competitive showings will put the championship on notice. Reserve winger Ursola Eteru finished with a flourish scoring two tries.
North Harbour’s biggest win is 59-0 over Taranaki in 2018.
Bay of Plenty 26 (Grace Parata-Stewart, Kokako Raki 2, Karli Faneva, Kelly Brazier 2 pen) Northland: 12 (Nia Sutherland, Holli O'Sullivan, Michella'e Stolz con) HT: 5-12
Momentum shifted dramatically in the 38th minute when a 50 metre intercept by Bay of Plenty lock Jessie Wharekura snuffed out a promising attack from the hosts.
Northland didn’t concede before the break but in the second half were held scoreless as Kendra Renyolds and Holly Wratt-Groeneweg took control of the breakdown and Kelly Brazier was tactically astute.
Behind 18-12 with two minutes remaining Northland had a chance of a late victory, but a diabolic clearance resulted in a penalty for offside play.
Former Black Fern Karli Faneva left the field in the 55th minute returning for the final five minutes and scoring a crucial bonus point try. Faneva is back in rugby after missing the best part of two years.
Black Ferns Rugby World Cup winner Kyrstal Murray produced an array of tricks, including a grubber for the opening try. Openside Nora Maaka made 17 tackles, and second five Nia Sutherland is promising.
Wellington: 61 (Monica Tagoai, Drenna Falaniko, Milly Mackey 2, Valini Vaka, Tess Woldring, Jackie Patea-Fereti, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Te Raukura Leafe tries; Mackey 8 con) Taranaki: 7 (Hayley Gabriel try; Laura Claridge con) HT: 21-0
The Pride led Taranaki 21-0 at halftime in Hawera, before pulling clear in the second spell.
Halfback Milly Mackey scored two tries and kicked eight conversions for a record personal haul of 26 points, while midfielders Shakira Baker and Monica Tagoai had powerhouse games in the midfield and the pack went well when it clicked into life, with senior forwards Jackie Patea-Fereti and Joanah Ngan-Woo each scoring tries.
Taranaki were flimsy at times in midfield but flankers Briana Poingdestre and Hayley Gabriel made over 30 tackles combined.
Wellington hosts unbeaten Manawatū in a blockbuster championship clash next Sunday at Jerry Collins Stadium.
Counties Manukau: 36 (Kataraina Enosa-Taifau 2, Fau Sefo, Shyanne Thompson, Harono Te Iringa, Jaymie Kolose tries; Hazel Tubic 3 conversions) Hawke’s Bay: 32 (Jaimee Robin, Leah Tuhi, Raedeen Blake, Kahlia Awa, Charlotte Tuliau tries; Krysten Cottrell penalty, 2 conversions) HT: 17-10.
Counties Manukau flipped a 17-10 halftime deficit with a quartet or tries in 23 minutes to start the second half.
It was an eye-catching spectacle where the Heat will be disappointed with defensive lapses but showed they could lift to another level if required.
Centre Kataraina Enosa-Taifau was penetrating, Harono Te Iringa made an explosive impact from the bench. Hazel Tubic is a confident general and Japanese winger Yurina Shinno was a livewire.
Blindside Leah Tuhi was rampant for the Tui. Second five Teilah Ferguson made a dozen tackles and several strong surges. Reserve halfback Kahlia Awa sparked the hosts late revival with a 50 metre try and her usual vibrance.
Manawatū: 47 (Jayme Nuku, Selica Winiata, Wikitoria Doyle, Kahurangi Sturmey, Hollyrae Mete, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Alesha Williams tries; Winiata 6 cons) Otago: 12 (Oceana Campbell, Te Atawhai Campbell tries; Cheyenne Cunningham con) HT: 19-0
Manawatū made a sharp start, skipping out to a 19-0 lead in as many minutes. Rangimarie Sturmey was incisive, and Selica Winiata is making a mockery of her brief retirement last year.
The Manawatū pack was efficient with hooker Jayme Nuku and lock Samantha Taylor to the fore.
Otago defended sternly for long periods with Bella Rewiri-Wharerau topping the tackle count with 22. The Spirit won a penalty and a tighthead against the Manawatū scrum after being crushed in the first half.
Te Atawhai Campbell scored another late try, this time from past halfway.