NZ’s Farah Palmer Cup kicks off

The Farah Palmer Cup was renamed after New Zealand Hall-of-Famer Farah Palmer last year, when the competition also saw a new winner with Counties Manukau beating Auckland in what was only the perennial champions second final defeat since the Cup began in 1999. However, Auckland remain holders of the JJ Stewart Trophy – the women’s Ranfurly Shield – as they were unbeaten at home last year.

There will be 11 teams taking part this season, the most since 2000-2005 when the tournament was contested by 18 teams. After that it went through a difficult period, falling to just four teams in 2006 and not taking place at all in 2010.

Since then, however, it has gradually expanded first to six teams, then eight in 2013, and nine from 2014 until the latest expansion.

This year the competition also splits into two divisions, again for the first time since 2005. Counties Manukau, Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington, Manawatu and Waikato will play for the Premiership, playing five games against each other and two “cross-over” matches against Championship teams.

The five Championship teams - North Harbour, Otago, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Tasman (the latter two being the new teams) – will also play each other, and two cross-over games.

Another development is a Player of the Year award, named after Fiao’o Fa’amausili who is also due to play her 100thgame in the competition (she is currently on 97), though Auckland’s Emma Jensen may beat her to the milestone as she is currently on 98.

The regular season will run for seven weekends, with semi-finals on 21stOctober and the Championship and Premiership finals on 28thOctober.

The season opened with cross-over fixtures. Unsurprisingly therefore defending champions Counties Manukau made a strong 14-try win over Championship team North Harbour 84-7 on the opening day, Wellington beat Hawke's Bay 42-10, and Waikato beat newcomers Tasman 25-17. However Auckland were surprisingly held to a 10-10 draw by Bay of Plenty.

On SundayCanterbury beat Otago 20-7

At least 10 games will be televised on Sky (NZ) as curtain raisers for men's NPC matches.

RESULTS:

Bay of Plenty 10 (Ereti Williams, Luka Connor tries) Auckland Storm 10 (Karina Stowers, Leanne Thompson tries). HT: 5-5

Wellington Lions 42 (Ayesha Leti-Liga, Kiri Mei 2, Angelica Uila, Rejieli Uluinayau 2, Raylene Lolo tries; Acacia Te Iwimate 2 con, pen) Hawke's Bay Tuis 10 (Shaylee Tipiwai try; Amy Williams con, pen) HT:

Tasman 17 (Michelle Curry, Rosie Buchanan-Brown, Wairakau Greig tries; Risi Pouri-Lane con) Waikato 25 (Makaia Riki-Te Kanawa, Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Veronica Sue, Hannah Brough tries; Ariana Bayler con; Calista Wihone pen).

Counties Manukau 84 (Aroha Heta 3, Bernadette Robertson 3, Justine Lavea, Victoria Subrtizky-Nafatali, Timara Leaf, Yuki Ono 2, Aotearoa Matau, Hanna Brough, Te Kura Nagata Aerengamate tries; Hazel Tubic 6, Isabel Ozorio con ) North Harbour 7 (Caitlyn Cox try; Sophie Fisher con).

Canterbury 20 (Tries: Rebecca Todd, Nicole Purdom, Nina Poletti. Conversion Charntay Poko. Penalty Charntay Poko) Otago 7 (Try: Cheyenne Cunningham, Conversion: Sherrie Hume) HT 3-0.