Farah Palmer Cup: Auckland hit 104 on Bay of Plenty as Kim Lammers bags 5 tries for Tasman

In the Premiership, Canterbury cemented their growing dominance, while Auckland ran rampant against Bay of Plenty at Eden Park, reclaiming the JJ Stewart Trophy in emphatic fashion. Manawatū marked a special milestone with veteran fullback Selica Winiata reaching 150 first-class games, contributing handsomely to a bonus-point triumph over Hawke’s Bay.

Meanwhile, the Championship saw Wellington and Otago solidify their top-four credentials. Tasman winger Kim Lammers made history with a five-try masterclass against Taranaki, while Otago Spirit extended their winning streak and overwhelmed Northland with an impressive bonus-point performance. From blistering attacking raids to meticulous set-piece execution, Round Three showcased the depth, skill, and sheer excitement of women’s rugby in New Zealand, here's RUCK's recap of the action.

Auckland tore through Bay of Plenty in a spectacle of speed, power, and precision at Eden Park. The first quarter was competitive, with the Storm only narrowly ahead 12-11, but once the loose forwards found their rhythm, the scoreboard exploded.

Taufa Bason’s hat trick pushed Auckland past 100 points, while Hollyrae Mete-Renata became one of the few players in Auckland history to score four tries in a match. The Storm’s backline combined devastating pace with clever support lines, leaving the Volcanix scrambling to contain gaps.

Bay of Plenty fought hard, with Luka Connor scoring a treble, but defensive lapses cost them dearly. Auckland retained the JJ Stewart Trophy with authority, their forwards completing 24 of 25 tackles and gaining 270 metres collectively.

AUCKLAND STORM: 104
TRIES: 15 (Presayus Singh 2, Maama Vaipulu 2, Hollyrae Mete-Renata 4, Levonah Motuliki 2, Taufa Bason 3, Gillian Fa’aumu, Amarante Sititi, Dajian Brown)
CONVERSIONS: 12 (Aleiyah Tuala 9, Emacyn Ieremia 3)

BAY OF PLENTY VOLCANIX: 30
TRIES: 5 (Luka Connor 3, Phoenix Reid-Stowers 2)
CONVERSIONS: 2 (Hope Parata-Kingi 2)
PENALTIES: 2 (Hope Parata-Kingi 2)

Canterbury made light work of Counties Manukau at Rugby Park, securing a four-try bonus point within eight minutes. A penalty try inside the opening minute set the tone, and winger Winnie Palamo capitalised on a long skip pass from Hannah King to extend the lead.

Riko Yoshida’s brace and Mo’omooga Palu’s double showed the Red and Blacks’ growing cohesion and fitness. King orchestrated proceedings with composure, combining experience from the Black Ferns XV tour with precise tactical awareness. Despite the heavy loss, Counties battled in the second half, with Fou Sefo scoring twice and demonstrating promising power and mobility for future campaigns. Canterbury’s clinical performance reinforced their Premiership credentials, while the Heat gained valuable experience against one of the country’s most formidable sides.

CANTERBURY: 62
TRIES: 9 (Riko Yoshida 2, Winnie Palamo, Fiaali’i Solomona, Mo’omooga Palu 2, Louise Blyde, Fia Laikong, Harriet Cochrane)
CONVERSIONS: 6 (Hannah King 6)
PENALTY TRY: 1

COUNTIES MANUKAU HEAT: 21
TRIES: 3 (Shyanne Thompson, Fou Sefo 2)
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Hazel Tubic 3)

Tasman’s record-breaking day was powered by Kim Lammers, who scored five tries to set a new club benchmark. Four of these came from precise timing and support from fullback Bethan Manners, whose tactical kicking enabled a series of hat-trick opportunities.

Lammers’ fifth was a solo effort, breaking from her own half before offloading to Manners. Taranaki’s forwards, led by Danielle Muggeridge, provided strong defensive resistance and crossed for two second-half tries, but the Mako’s cohesive attack and relentless pressure proved decisive. The combination of homegrown talent and Wellington-based additions like Lammers highlights Tasman’s growing depth.

TASMAN MAKO: 48
TRIES: 8 (Kim Lammers 5, Jett Hayward, Bethan Manners, Luisa Tafia)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Bethan Manners 4)

TARANAKI WHIO: 25
TRIES: 4 (Hayley Coogan, Phoenix Fraser, Danielle Muggeridge 2, Kiara Katene)

Selica Winiata celebrated her 150th first-class game in style, scoring two tries and kicking five conversions in a dominant Manawatū performance. Wikitoria Doyle’s hat trick, including two long-range sprints, underlined the Cyclones’ attacking cohesion, while Elinor Plum King and prop Elinor Febrey added further depth to the backline and forwards’ scoring.

The Tui showed grit, with Leilani Hakiwai crossing for a try, but the Cyclones’ speed, support lines, and clinical finishing were overwhelming. Manawatū retained the Attenborough McBeth Challenge Cup, demonstrating both experience and the ability to integrate youth talent seamlessly.

MANAWATŪ CYCLONES: 73
TRIES: 11 (Wikitoria Doyle 3, Selica Winiata 2, Elinor Plum King 2, Eleonor Febrey, Brianna Wallace, Kahurangi Sturmey, Sam Taylor)
CONVERSIONS: 5 (Selica Winiata 5)

HAWKE’S BAY TUI: 5
TRIES: 1 (Leilani Hakiwai)

Wellington bounced back from their Round Two defeat with a disciplined and patient performance. Set-piece dominance allowed the Pride to build an early lead, highlighted by a well-executed cross-kick to Keira Su’a Smith. Hooker Valini Vaka and lock Sanita Levave added tries from maul and support play, while wing Harmony Kautai secured a bonus-point finish before halftime.

The Pride maintained control throughout, with replacement Baylee Meroiti finishing a kick-and-chase move late in the match. North Harbour battled valiantly, adding a try from Margaret Wye, but Wellington’s structured approach and effective conversions ensured a comfortable win.

WELLINGTON PRIDE: 28
TRIES: 5 (Keira Su’a Smith, Valini Vaka, Sanita Levave, Harmony Kautai, Baylee Meroiti)
PENALTIES: 1 (Arene Landon-Lane)

NORTH HARBOUR HIBISCUS: 10
TRIES: 1 (Margaret Wye)
CONVERSIONS: 1 (Ella Henderson)
PENALTIES: 1 (Ella Henderson)

Otago continued their Championship dominance with a bonus-point victory over Northland. The Spirit imposed a high-tempo style, scoring three tries in the first half to build a strong lead. Tegan Hollows and Naomi Sopoaga both scored twice, while Jamie Church added her fifth try of the season. Northland responded with three well-earned tries but struggled to contain Otago’s dynamic backline.

In the second half, Otago extended their advantage with four more tries, including Hollows’ second after returning from a sin-bin. Discipline issues were present for both sides, but Otago’s relentless pace and cohesion left Northland chasing shadows and ensured another convincing win.

OTAGO SPIRIT: 48
TRIES: 8 (Tegan Hollows 2, Naomi Sopoaga 2, Hannah Norris, Sarah Jones, Jamie Church, Dallas McKnight)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Sheree Hume 4)

NORTHLAND KAURI: 15
TRIES: 3 (Hikitia Wikaira, Turia Stowers, Hazel Stolz)