Farah Palmer Cup - Round 1: Manukau score 14 tries as Women's Rugby returns to New Zealand

Meanwhile, Counties Manukau Heat made a statement of intent on their 70th anniversary, steamrolling Bay of Plenty Volcanix with ruthless precision. Wellington Pride and Northland Kauri brought plenty of attacking flair and grit, while Otago Spirit edged out North Harbour in a classic down-to-the-wire battle.

Last year’s Championship winners, Manawatū Cyclones, got a harsh reminder of the Premiership’s intensity, facing a steep learning curve at Rugby Park. From electric runs to dominant forward displays, the opening weekend showcased the depth and dynamism of New Zealand women’s rugby, laying down a marker that the 2025 Farah Palmer Cup is ready to deliver drama, skill, and high-octane action every step of the way.

PREMIERSHIP: AUCKLAND STORM 31 - 28 WAIKATO WOMEN

College Rifles RFC (Saturday, 9th August)

Auckland Storm kicked off their 2025 Farah Palmer Cup campaign with a gritty, hard-fought 31-28 victory over reigning champions Waikato on the slick College Rifles artificial turf. After suffering heavy defeats to Waikato in the previous season, the Storm came out firing, establishing a commanding 26-7 halftime lead.

The forwards set the tone early on, with former Black Ferns Aldora Itunu powering over for a close-range try to open the scoring, and the experienced pack securing crucial scrum and lineout dominance. The highlight of the first half came when winger Presayus Singh produced a breathtaking 70-meter sprint to dot down, leaving Waikato’s defence in tatters.

Waikato’s Grace Houpapa-Barrett kept her side within striking distance, crashing over twice during rare incursions into Storm territory. The momentum shifted late when debutant Regan Chapman crossed, and Kaea Nepia nailed a sideline conversion to bring Waikato within five points at 26-21.

However, Auckland quelled the comeback threat with a well-worked try involving Maama Vaipulu and Hollyrae Mete-Renata, the latter a former FPC Player of the Year finalist. Key performers Taufa Bason and Amarante Sititi ensured Storm’s defence held firm in the closing stages. With this tight victory, Auckland and Waikato remain evenly matched over their last dozen clashes, each with six wins apiece.

AUCKLAND STORM: 31 (5)
TRIES: 5 (Itunu, Singh, Motuliki, Sititi, Vaipulu)
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Tuala x3)

WAIKATO: 28 (4)
TRIES: 4 (Houpapa-Barrett 2, Samuelu, Chapman)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Nepia x4)

Trafalgar Park (Saturday, 9th August)

Wellington Pride showcased their Championship credentials with a strong 39-7 victory over Tasman, driven by the dynamic playmaking of Keira Su’a Smith. The Petone Ponies standout, fresh from a Black Ferns XV tour in South Africa, stamped her authority early, orchestrating a slick opening try within the first 90 seconds as Ivana Samani was fed through a broken Mako defensive line.

Su’a Smith’s influence didn’t stop there, as her incisive break later set up wing Harmony Kautai to dot down, before she bagged a well-earned try herself, highlighting her X-factor potential for the season ahead. Despite the scoreboard, Wellington were tested by their own errors and Tasman’s gritty resistance, particularly after Nahliah Tagatauli-Tolova’a’s yellow card just before halftime stalled momentum.

The Pride’s breakthrough came in the third quarter, when centre Litia Bulicakau sliced through tackles to race 50 metres for a crucial score. Tasman battled hard but Wellington’s superior fitness and attacking depth sealed the contest with late tries from Jackie Patea-Fereti and a second from Kautai. A penalty and three conversions from Arene Landon-Lane added the extras, rounding out a performance that promises more from this hungry Wellington side.

WELLINGTON PRIDE: 39 (6)
TRIES: 6 (Kautai 2, Su’a Smith, Samani, Patea-Fereti, Bulicakau)
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Landon-Lane)
PENALTIES: 1 (Landon-Lane)

TASMAN: 7 (1)
TRIES: 1 (Auimatagi)
CONVERSIONS: 1 (Wood)

CHAMPIONSHIP: TARANAKI WHIO 17 - 48 NORTHLAND KAURI

Northland Kauri’s top-division experience shone through in a commanding 48-17 win over a youthful Taranaki Whio side featuring nine debutants. The clash marked the inaugural first-class game on the newly resurfaced artificial pitch at New Plymouth Boys’ High School, providing perfect conditions for fast, expansive rugby.

The Whio showed plenty of fight early on, despite conceding two tries, responding well with a halftime score from first-five Rosie Moffitt, who capitalised on a retreating scrum defence. However, Northland’s class was evident as fullback Tyler Nankivell produced a breathtaking 90-metre dash to the line, setting the tone for a dominant second half.

After the break, the Kauri forwards took control, overpowering Taranaki in set pieces and securing clean ball, which translated into four further tries. Zandra Patrick-Motu and Terai Elia joined the scoring party alongside Nankivell, who also kicked four conversions. The physicality and precision of the Kauri pack made the difference, highlighting the gulf in experience. Taranaki’s Zeta Barber and Danielle Muggeridge also crossed the line but were outmatched by Northland’s all-around performance.

NORTHLAND KAURI: 48 (8)
TRIES: 8 (Tupe, Patrick-Motu, Elia, Nankivell, Rogers, Murray, Tierney, Stowers)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Nankivell)

TARANAKI WHIO: 17 (3)
TRIES: 3 (Barber, Muggeridge, Moffitt)
CONVERSIONS: 1 (Moffitt)

Counties Manukau Heat marked their 70th anniversary in style with a crushing 88-0 victory over Bay of Plenty Volcanix at Navigation Homes Stadium. The Heat’s dominance was absolute from start to finish, as they scored 14 tries to completely shut out their opponents. Bay of Plenty struggled to gain any foothold, unable to breach Counties’ relentless defence or disrupt their attacking rhythm.

Standout performances came from a host of Counties players, including Mafi Pasikala, Hazel Tubic, and Shyanne Thompson. Tubic’s boot was flawless, slotting nine conversions to add valuable points. Sariyah Paitai’s triple-try haul was a highlight, showcasing her growing reputation as one of the competition’s most dangerous finishers.

Counties’ forward pack, led by Esther Faiaoga-Tilo and Esther Amataga, dominated the breakdown and set a solid platform for the backs to exploit. The Volcanix, overwhelmed by the Heat’s pace and physicality, were left searching for answers. This comprehensive win sends a clear message that Counties Manukau are serious contenders in the 2025 Farah Palmer Cup.

TRIES: 14 (Pasikala, Faiaoga-Tilo, Amataga, Hall, Paitai 3, Thompson, Tubic, Sotutu, Gago, Tainefu, Mataroa, Haupeakui)

CONVERSIONS: 9 (Tubic x9)

TRIES: 0

CONVERSIONS: 0

Sunday’s encounter at Forsyth Barr Stadium delivered another nail-biting thriller, with Otago Spirit narrowly edging North Harbour Hibiscus 34-33 in a pulsating contest that slipped away from the visitors for the second consecutive year.

North Harbour seized control early, racing to a 14-0 lead thanks to an electric performance from first-five Ella Henderson, who sliced through traffic to score and then calmly converted her own try. The Hibiscus maintained the upper hand at halftime, leading 19-17, and seemed poised to close out the match with ten minutes remaining.

However, Otago refused to buckle. Replacement forward Sarah Jones’s determination saw her power over from five metres out to snatch the winning try. Despite a frantic final assault from North Harbour, Otago’s defence held firm, with a crucial penalty helping to quell the visitors’ desperate last-ditch efforts.

The match epitomised the fine margins of this rivalry, with both sides showcasing attacking intent but occasionally faltering in execution. Standout performers included Otago’s seasoned No. 8 Greer Muir and halfback Abigail Paton, while fullback Olivia Fowler’s double helped anchor the home side’s victory.

OTAGO SPIRIT: 34 (6)
TRIES: 6 (Fowler 2, Sopoaga, Paton, Church, Jones)
CONVERSIONS: 2 (Paton)

NORTH HARBOUR HIBISCUS: 33 (5)
TRIES: 5 (Onesemo-Tuilaepa, Williams, Harrison, Eteru-Fuailefau, Henderson)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Henderson)

After a perfect 2024 Championship campaiga, Manawatu's winning streak came to a tough halt at Rugby Park, where Canterbury’s clinical Premiership side showed why the step up is so demanding. Despite enjoying plenty of possession, the Cyclones struggled to breach a ruthless home defence and polished attack, going down 44-5.

Canterbury’s squad was strengthened by key recruits, including Tasman’s Fiaali’i Solomona, who has impressively transitioned from winger to No. 8, and Louise Blyde, who crossed twice and brings big-game experience from Taranaki. Black Ferns XV captain Holly Wratt-Groeneweg made a commanding impact with a try and 17 tackles.

The midfield pairing of Hurricanes Poua ten Te Rauoriwa Gapper, now at second five-eighths, and scrumhalf Hannah King, who kicked two conversions, orchestrated much of Canterbury’s attacking rhythm. Defensively, Lucy Jenkins was relentless with 20 tackles, while Neve Anglesey topped the stats with 31 tackles. Fullback Winnie Palamo’s electric runs gained 134 metres, complementing winger Lailanie Muamua’s rugby league-honed explosiveness.

Manawatū’s Kahurangi Sturmey and Elinor Plum King showed plenty of grit, but the Cyclones faced their heaviest defeat since a 32-5 loss to Auckland in 2022.

CANTERBURY: 44 (7)
TRIES: 7 (Muamua 2, Wratt-Groeneweg, Blyde 2, Cochrane 2, Anglesey)
CONVERSIONS: 2 (King)

MANAWATŪ CYCLONES: 5 (1)
TRIES: 1 (Windsor)