Manawatu 19 (Wilson, Mitchell, Ah Wong, tries; Wyness cons, Cruden cons) Taranaki 35 (Slater 2, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Ormond; Potroz 3 pens, 3 cons)
Hawke's Bay 34 (Flanders, Mikaele-Tu'u, Ili, Fomai, tries; McClutchie 1 con, Makene 3 cons, 2 pens) Wellington 18 (Ah Kuoi, Uluilakepa tries; Garden Bachop 2 pens, 1 cons)
Bay of Plenty 33 (Hollinshead, Webber 2, Dickson, Johnston tries; Trask 4 cons) Waikato 30 (Tupaea 2, Norries, Taukei'aho, tries; Waaka 2 pens, 2 cons)
FULLTIME
69th minute - Potroz lands another penalty for Taranaki. (19-35)
60th minute - TRY TARANAKI to Lewis Ormond - The wing keeps the tries flowing, dives into the corner to bolster his team's lead. (19-32)
56th minute - TRY TARANAKI to Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens - Another one! Potroz's bomb bounces perfectly into the hands of the chasing wing. Potroz converts. (19-27)
54th minute - TRY MANAWATU to Nigel Ah Wong - The big wing finishes off a slick backline raid. This game has really opened up in the second half. Conversion slotted by Cruden. (19-20)
51st minute - TRY TARANAKI to Bradley Slater - Copy and paste replica from his effort five minutes ago to extend the Naki lead. Conversion is good. (12-20)
46th minute - TRY TARANAKI to Bradley Slater - The hooker caps off a textbook lineout drive from close range for the visitors' first try of the game. Easy conversion for Potroz. (12-13)
Second half underway...
HALFTIME
42nd minute - Jayson Potroz reduces the deficit after the halftime hooter with a penalty. (12-6)
35th minute - TRY MANAWATU to Liam Mitchell - The Turbos extend their lead with a well executed move. Conversion sails over. (12-3)
18th minute - TRY MANAWATU to Ben Wyness - The halfback finishes off a well-worked movement that saw the ball through no less than five ses of hands before it was dotted down. Conversion is wide (5-3).
3rd minute - Jayson Potroz slots a straightforward penalty to give Taranaki an early lead (0-3).
KICKOFF - Taranaki gets us underway in Feilding.
4:33pm - Windy conditions here in Feilding for this encounter. Let's hope for some attacking rugby.
*****
Join us back here at 4:35pm for updates from Taranaki taking on Manawatu.
Hawke's Bay 34 (Flanders, Mikaele-Tu'u, Ili, Fomai, tries; McClutchie 1 conversion, Makene 3 conversion, 2 penalty) bt Wellington 18 (Ah Kuoi, Uluilakepa tries; Garden Bachop 2 penalties, 1 conversion)
Bay of Plenty 33 (Hollinshead, Webber 2, Dickson, Johnston tries; Trask 4 conversion) bt Waikato 30 (Tupaea 2, Norries, Taukei'aho, tries; Waaka 2 penalty, 2 conversion)
Fulltime - Hawke's Bay have emphatically locked away the Shield for the summer with a convincing 34-18 victory over Wellington.
The game was done and dusted after 40 minutes, with the Magpies producing champagne rugby to score three unanswered tries to take a 27-6 lead into the sheds.
Wellington where much improved in the second half, scoring two tries but it wasn't enough with the Magpies running away 34-18 winners.
In the other game, Bay of Plenty scored a late try through Joe Johnston in added time to beat Waikato in a thrilling contest. The win means the Steamers move off the bottom of the Premiership table and drop Wellington into the relegation zone.
76 mins - Wellington finishing the contest the better of the two sides with the Lions attacking inside the Magpies half.
73 mins - The game has turned scrappy with all the replacements coming on. Garden-Bachop goes for risky cross-field kick but it doesn't come off.
Lineout Hawke's Bay on halfway.
69 mins - Hawke's Bay are regaining control of the contest, attacking inside Wellington's 22. Danny Toala makes a good run but knocks the ball on in contact.
65 mins - In the other game, there is only four minutes remaining and Waikato are leading by four but the Steamers are on the attack.
64 mins TRY WELLINGTON to Kaliopasi Uluilakepa - Wellington builds their attack through their forwards. After five phases, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa smashes his way over. Garden-Bachop converts the try. (HBY 34-18)
62 mins - Wellington are on the attack just 7m out from the line. After 10 phases nothing comes of the attack but the referee comes back for the penalty.
60 mins - YELLOW CARD HAWKE'S BAY to Kurt Baker - The Lions are starting to find their best form finally. They're attacking inside the Magpies before Kurt Baker gives away a penalty for foul play.
After the play was over, Kurt Baker dropped a knee into a wellington player and the referee has sent him to the sin bin.
57 mins - TRY WELLINGTON to Naitoa Ah Kuoi - Wellington have struck straight back. Fifita pops a beautiful little short pass to Ah Kuoi, with the big man then showing good wheels to gallop through from 25m out. Scores in the left corner. Garden-Bachop can't convert (HBY 34-11)
54 mins - TRY HAWKE'S Bay to Neria Fomai - Hawke's Bay score one of the tries of the season's. It all starts from Magpies 22. Baker made the initial bust out of his 22 before finding Mikaele-Tu'u, who was able to offload to Fomai.
His catch and pass kept play moving to the left wing via Dixon, with McClutchie then charging down the touchline. He kicks infield for Fomai chasing through back on the inside, who gets there to dot down. Lincoln McClutchie converts the try. (HBY 34-6)
52 mins - Wellington are back onto the attack inside the Magpies 22. After 11 phases of great attack from Wellington, Hawke's Bay win a breakdown penalty to ease the pressure.
49 mins - Hawke's Bay wins another lineout against the throw and Folau Fakatava punishes the Lions and forces them back to their own 22.
45 mins - From a lineout just 10m from the Magpies line. Wellington loses another lineout to stop their attack.
43 mins - Wellington have started the second half strongly building their attack inside the Magpies 22. After five phases Hawke's Bay wins a breakdown penalty.
Second half - Caleb Makene gets us underway.
Halftime - A dream first half from Hawke's Bay with the Magpies running Wellington to shreds. The Magpies have been on fire scoring three unanswered tries to punish a poor Wellington side.
In the other game, Bay of Plenty takes a 19-18 lead into the sheds.
40 mins + 4 - Wellington building their attack nicely just short of the Magpies line. After four phases Alex Fidow has gone inches short and that will be halftime.
40 mins + 3 - Wellington finishing the first half strongly and have a lineout just 5m out.
38 mins - After a long period of aerial ping-pong, Hawke's Bay will have a lineout on their own 10m line.
36 mins - Hawke's Bay win the Lions lineout and are straight back on the attack inside Wellington's 22. After eight phases a Magpies pass goes to ground and Wellington hang on.
33 mins - The Magpies are hot on the attack again looking dangerous. Wellington does well to hang on and get a relieving penalty.
30 mins - Hawke's Bay continue to control possession with Wellington struggling to get into the contest. Hawke's Bay win a penalty for a high tackle and the Magpies will go for touch and have a lineout on Wellington's 22.
25 mins - The Steamers have continued their strong start to the first half grabbing their third try of the afternoon through Webber. Waikato respond to get themselves back into the contest with a try through Quinn Tupaea (BOP 19-8)
24 mins - PENALTY GOAL HAWKE'S BAY to Caleb Makene - Hawke's Bay continue their momentum and are back in Wellington's 22 hot on attack. After five phases Wellington gives away an offside penalty. The Magpies will go for goal. Makene slots the penalty goal over. (HBY 27-6)
21 mins- TRY HAWKE'S BAY to Stacey Ili - The Magpies are on fire right now and get another try to extend the Magpies lead. Brendon O'Connor, started the attack with a strong run into the Wellington's 22.
The Magpies get fastball and go wide to Stacey Ili to score in the corner. Makene converts the try. (HBY 24-6)
17 mins - TRY HAWKE'S BAY to Marino Mikaele-Tu'u - Jonah Lowe counter-attacks strongly breaking through the Wellington defence and he gets down to the 22. At the breakdown, Wellington gives away a breakdown penalty.
From the lineout, the Magpies produce a perfect lineout maul and Marino Mikaele-Tu'u crashes over. Makene converts the try. (HBY 17-6)
13 mins - TRY Hawke's Bay to Devan Flanders - A poor kick from Wellington and the Magpies counter attack. Folau Fakatava put in a perfect grubber into Wellington's 22 with a bunch of players chasing.
Flanders was leading the charge, but Proctor dived ahead of him to try and trap the ball inside the 22. However, the ball ended up pinballing to Flanders, who was able to score. Makene converts the try. (HBY 10-6)
11 mins - PENALTY GOAL WELLINGTON to Jackson Garden-Bachop - Wellington have set-up camp in the Magpies 22. After seven phases, Wellington win penalty right in front. Garden-Bachop goes for goal and slots it over. (WEL 6-3)
10 mins - In the other game, Bay of Plenty have made a strong start going up 14-0 with a try through Dan Hollinshead and Joe Webber. (BOP 14-0)
9 min - From a scrum, Garden-Bachop puts in a perfect grubber kick into Hawke's Bay 22 and Pepesana Patafilo can't gather with the try line wide open.
7 mins - WELLINGTON PENALTY GOAL to Jackson Garden-Bachop - Wellington have responded well and are straight on the attack in the Magpies 22. After 15 phases of strong Wellington attack, Magpies give away a breakdown penalty. Garden-Bachop will have a shot at goal from right in front. He nails it. (3-3)
4 mins - PENALTY GOAL HAWKE'S BAY to Caleb Makene - Marino Mikaele-Tu'u makes a great run to get down to Lions 22m line. After seven phases of entertaining Magpies attack, Wellington gives away a penalty. Caleb Makene will have a shot of goal from right in front. He slots it over. (HBY 3-0)
2 min - Nervy start from Wellington with James O'Reilly not throwing the ball in straight. Scrum to Magpies just short of halfway.
Kickoff - Jackson Garden-Bachop gets us underway.
2:03pm - It is a beautiful day in Napier for this Ranfurly Shield challenge. Wellington last held the Shield in 2008 before Canterbury took it off the Lions a year later. If the Magpies get a win today they will lock away the Shield for the summer.
In our other game in Hamilton we have perfect conditions as well.
*****
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of Sunday's three Mitre 10 Cup games from week nine of the competition.
With just two rounds remaining ahead of the playoffs there is plenty on the line for all six teams in action today.
There are two games which kickoff at 2:05pm with Hawke's Bay hosting Wellington in a Ranfurly Shield clash. If the Magpies win, they will lock the Log o' Wood away for the summer, but if the Lions win, they will have to defend it next weekend against Manawatū.
At the same time, Waikato hosts Bay of Plenty. A win for the hosts would see them move into second, while Bay of Plenty will be desparate to secure victory as they currently sit last in the Premiership.
Then at 4:35pm, Manawatū face Taranaki in a Champonship encounter. The Turbos are looking for just their second win of the season, while the Bulls will move into third with victory.
For full team lists, click here
TAB head-to-head
Hawke's Bay $2.00 Wellington $1.75
Waikato $1.46 Bay of Plenty $2.55
Manawatū $3.95 Taranaki $1.22
Canterbury keep slim Mitre 10 Cup playoff hopes alive
With the threat of a shock relegation looming, Canterbury have put forth their best performance of the year in a 29-0 demolition of the defending champion Mako in Blenheim.
The visitors ran in four tries to zilch to secure a priceless five points, as they try to stave off demotion with one round remaining.
For as strong as their attacking play was, Canterbury's defence was the anchor for the victory, setting an aggressive tone early that they maintained throughout the contest to completely shut out the Mako.
Luke Romano was imperious across the park for Canterbury, single handedly wreaking havoc on the Tasman lineout.
The Punivai brothers ran in one try apiece, while fullback Josh McKay's ran in a spectacular solo effort that has to be the leading contender for try of the season.
Canterbury return to Christchurch to take on Auckland next Sunday, while Tasman travel to Dunedin to face Otago on Saturday.
