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Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Manukau Counties running back Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu takes the ball on contact during his 36-22 win over Auckland on Sunday.
Add Counties Manukau to the list of contenders for the Farah Palmer Cup title.
The Heat issued an early-season statement, dominating Auckland 36-22 in Sunday’s round game at Eden Park.
Three-time defending champion Canterbury is the team everyone is trying to beat in 2020, but Manukau counties showed on Sunday, they will also be hard to stop.
In a battle of two previously undefeated teams, Counties Manukau gave Auckland their first loss of the season, outscoring them six attempts to four.
READ MORE:
* Farah Palmer Cup: Canterbury annihilates Otago to retain the JJ Stewart Trophy
* Farah Palmer Cup: Auckland Joins Manukau Counties as Impressive First Round Winners
* The Manawatū cyclones suffer a heavy loss to Auckland.
SPORT OF HEAVEN
Manawatū rebels against Tasman to get the first win of the season
Black Ferns Sevens star Ruby Tui was again impressive on his return to rugby union, right wing on two of Counties Manukau’s attempts and finishing well.
Counties Manukau took a 12-5 lead at halftime with Auckland scoring on the last play of the first half through Natahlia Moors.
The Heat dominated the second half after Auckland struck back through an attempt to hook up Cristo Tofa to make it 19-10.
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Counties Manukau No 8 Harono Te Iringa stumbled in their Farah Palmer Cup clash against Auckland.
Counties Manukau pushed his lead to 14 with an attempt to lose forward Ilisapeti Molia three minutes later.
A second for Tui in the 59th minute made it 31-10, which was the turning point of the game, and removed any hope that Auckland could return.
The Manukau counties did not finish and it was reviewed again with number 8 Harono Te Iringa appearing with the ball from a rolling maul.
To their credit, Auckland kept fighting until the final whistle, adding consolation attempts through reserve Lydia Turua-Quedley and loose forward Liana Mikaele-Tu ‘in the final five minutes.
Canterbury showed their class on Saturday, beating Otago 85-10 in Christchurch.
Canterbury easily retained the JJ Stewart Trophy, the women’s equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield, which they have held since 2017.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Canterbury captain Alana Bremner makes a run down the touchline in her 85-10 win over Otago.
Wing Martha Lolohea and captain Alana Bremner scored doubles, and Canterbury outscored the Blues and Golds 13 attempts to two, ensuring they have the maximum points (10) in the can after two games.
Canterbury got off to a great start, scoring three attempts in the first 10 minutes, including one by former Otago No. 8 Angie Sisifa. The game ended at halftime with Canterbury holding a huge 47-5 lead.
Wellington also produced a great victory, beating Hawke’s Bay 67-17 in Lower Hutt.
The hosts scored six unanswered tries in the second half after leading 31-17 at the break, while wingers Ayesha Leti-l’iga and Dhys Faleafaga each scored four tries.
At Inglewood, a try in added time gave hosts Taranaki Whio a dramatic 32-29 victory over North Harbor Hibiscus.
Waikato won its third game in a row, beating the Bay of Plenty 21-10 in Rotorua.
Waikato took a 15-3 lead at halftime with the only second-half attempt by Bay of Plenty’s Mererangi Paul in the 64th minute.
Manawatū won its first game of the season on Sunday, defeating Tasman 88-0 at Palmerston North.
The Cyclones raced on 14 attempts to move to 1-1 after last week’s loss to Canterbury.
Tasman, meanwhile, remains at the bottom of the South Pool after two heavy defeats. Last week, they also failed to register a point, being crushed 62-0 by Wellington.
TAKE A LOOK:
Farah Palmer Cup Week Three Results: Wellington 67, Hawke’s Bay 17; Canterbury 85, Otago 10; Taranaki 32, North Harbor 29; Waikato 21, Bay of Plenty 10; Manawatū 88, Tasman 0; Counties Manukau 36, Auckland 22. Goodbye: Northland.
