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The fifth found of the Mitre 10 Cup season featured five crossover matches between Premiership division teams and the second-tier Championship. Not all went the way of the favorites. As ever a significant number of Major League Rugby players took part including six in the final match of the weekend.
MANAWATU 10 – 34 CANTERBURY
Friday evening’s weekend opener was a mismatch between perennial Premiership contenders Canterbury and Manawatu, the lowest-ranked team on the Championship table. It was 34-nil until two late Turbos tries spared them the embarrassment of a shutout. There were no MLR players involved with a handful of internationals taking part including All Blacks Luke Romano and Nehe Milner-Skudder.
TARANAKI 28 – 29 AUCKLAND
An absolute cracker at Inglewood to start Saturday off on the front foot. A try from Salesi Rayasi on full-time gave Simon Hickey a shot at the winning conversion, which he duly made to give Auckland the win over the Bulls. It ruined a career day from Taranaki fullback Jayson Potroz, who scored 23 points in a losing effort. Raptors tighthead prop Marco Fepulea’i was a replacement for the winners. Subbing on the opposite side was Free Jacks prop Donald Brighouse.
NORTH HARBOUR 46 – 10 HAWKE’S BAY
Harbour picked up just their second win of the season against the Magpies, and did so in dominant fashion. Jared Page scored a had trick with former Glendale No8 Murphy Taramai touching down for a second half try. Another Raptors alumnus, Mason Emerson, started on the left wing for Hawke’s Bay.
WELLINGTON 34 – 35 OTAGO
The second of three close contests of the weekend. Josh Ioane’s 78th minute conversion of Ireland u20 lock Jack Regan’s try stole the win for the second-tier Razorbacks over their Premiership rivals. Austin player-coach Jamie Mackintosh started in the No1 shirt for Otago, with New England center Aleki Morris-Lome also in the run-on side.
WAIKATO 36 – 13 COUNTIES MANUKAU
There was no such luck for the struggling Steelers who were outclassed by the Mooloo men. Free Jacks fullback Beaudein Waaka made his Waikato debut as a starter with loosehead prop Tolu Fahamokioa earning his first cap for the province off the bench. Counties had ex-Austin lock Potu Leavasa, ex-Raptors No8 Sam Slade, and Old Glory flyhalf Jason Robertson in the starting lineup. Robertson kicked two penalties and one conversion.
TASMAN 33 – 7 BAY OF PLENTY
Another one-sided affair on Sunday with the defending champion Mako putting the Steamers to the sword. New England signing Joe Johnston made his fourth replacement appearance of the season, a 25-minute effort at flanker. Potential MLR signing Isaac Ross was a reserve lock for Tasman.
NORTHLAND 18 – 14 SOUTHLAND
A hard-fought contest with Canada rep Jordan Olsen captaining his Taniwha team to a win over the Tony Lamborn-led Stags. Kara Pryor started on the flank for Northland and picked up a yellow card, while the midfield featured Utah’s Blake Hohaia and Colorado’s Rene Ranger. More MLR links were found in replacement props Luatangi Li of San Diego and Kalolo Tuiloma from the Warriors. ATL’s Rory van Vugt was a substitute winger for Southland.
