NZ: Auckland march on, after scare

Canterbury begin their programme against Bay of Plenty (photo: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Auckland got a fright in the second round of the Farah Palmer Cup, the national women's provincial competition, when beating Manawatu 30-25 in Auckland on Saturday. Down 8-25 at half-time Manawatu staged an impressive fightback. Firstly, they held Auckland to one try during the second half and scored 17 points themselves, more than Manawatu had registered in eight games played against Auckland before. Their previous best points total was 13 scored in 2009.

The power of the Auckland pack was again the key, with hooker Fiao'o Fa'amausili getting her second brace of tries in two games.

Manuwatu’s reward was two bonus points, one for four tries (including a score from key Ferns playmaker Selica Winiata), and a second for finishing within seven points.

Last year’s semi-finalists Waikato were failed to score last week when they met Counties Manukau. This week they bounced back with a 22-12 win at North Harbour. The boot of Tenika Willison, who kicked four penalties in a game where the two teams both scored two tries.

The other headline from the match was Waikato’s latest overseas “signing”. The Mooloos have fielded several foreign players in past seasons, most notably Spain’s Patricia Garcia who had two successful seasons with the club. This week saw Canada’s Magali Harvey in their squad. For her first game, only a few days after travelling out, she started on the bench but in the future Waikato will be hoping she can have as much impact as Garcia had.  A successful couple of months could also be important for Canada’s World Cup hopes.

Canterbury had the bye last week and made an impressive start to their competition, beating Bay of Plenty with a five-try bonus-point 31-0 victory.

Scores on week 2:

Canterbury 31 (Kendra Cocksedge, Chelsey Smart, Tara Horsnell, Laura Buckingham, Lucy Anderson tries; Cocksedge 3 con) Bay of Plenty 0. HT: 26-0

Auckland 30 (Kiri Demant 2, Fiao'o Fa'amausili 2, Naite Faitala-Mariner tries; Emma Jensen con, pen) Manawatu 25 (Akosita Kuruyabaki, Krysten Duffil, Lauren Balsillie, Selica Winiata tries; Duffil con, pen). HT: 25-8

North Harbour 12 (Stacey McNamara, Briar-Anne McNamara tries; Chelsea Alley con) Waikato 22 (Chey Reti, Teirea Te Aho tries; Tenika Willison 4 pen).

Province

Played

Won

Lost

Points

Auckland

2

2

0

10

Manuwatu

2

1

1

7

Canterbury

1

1

0

5

North Harbour

2

1

1

5

Counties Manukau

1

1

0

5

Waikato

2

1

1

4

Wellington

1

0

1

1

Bay of Plenty

2

0

2

0

Otago

1

0

1

0