Farah Palmer Cup: Round 7 - Otago win Championship title and promoted as Premiership play-offs take shape

In the top tier, Auckland stormed into the semi-finals with a nine-try demolition of Counties Manukau, while Canterbury cruised past Bay of Plenty thanks to a blistering start in Christchurch. Waikato had to weather an early scare from Hawke’s Bay, but the defending champions hit their stride to rack up 60 points and book a semi-final showdown with the Storm.

With the Championship concluded and the top flight's regular season wrapped up, all eyes now turn to the Premiership semi-finals, where four heavyweights will battle for a place in the 2025 final.

The Otago Spirit capped an unbeaten 2025 campaign with a dominant performance over Northland in the Championship Final at Tāhuna Park. From the first whistle, Otago asserted their ball-in-hand game, stretching the Kauri defence with crisp passing and relentless support play.

Openside flanker Sarah Jones and No. 8 Greer Muir made strong carries to create space for Hannah Norris, who crossed twice to open the scoring for Otago. Northland defended resolutely early, holding Otago up on several near-line opportunities, but eventually conceded points through Sheree Hume’s penalty before Muir and Olivia Fowler scored to push the score to 25–0 at halftime.

Northland mounted a spirited second-half challenge, with Tyler Nankivell dotting down and Lily Murray-Wihongi adding another try. However, Otago’s fluid attack and smart recycling kept them in control, with Charlotte Va’afusuaga and Jones sealing the win in the final quarter. Key performances included Hume’s accurate kicking, Jones’ tireless work in the loose, and the defensive solidity of the forwards.

The win sees Otago lift the Championship trophy undefeated, completing a perfect tier two season to also secure promotion to the Farah Palmer Cup Premiership for 2026.

OTAGO SPIRIT: 37
TRIES: 6 (Hannah Norris 5′, 32′; Greer Muir 28′; Olivia Fowler 40′; Charlotte Va’afusuaga 65′; Sarah Jones 72′)
CONS: 2 (Sheree Hume 5′; Georgia Cormack 65′)
PEN: 1 (Sheree Hume 25′)

NORTHLAND KAURI: 12
TRIES: 2 (Tyler Nankivell 58′; Lily Murray-Wihongi 76′)
CONS: 1 (Krystal Murray 76′)

Auckland Storm confirmed their Premiership semi-final spot with a nine-try demolition of Counties Manukau at Pukekohe. The first half was tight, with Auckland’s dominance in field position and ball retention finally rewarded when hooker Cilia-Marie Po’e Tofaeono crossed for the opening try. Amarante Sititi added a second after clever interplay from the forwards, while defensive resilience kept Counties Manukau scoreless at halftime.

The Storm unleashed their attack in the second half, with pacey backs and supporting forwards combining for seven tries. Danny-Elle Fesolai, Glory Aiono Samuelu, and Taufa Bason each crossed for pivotal scores, while Mele Latu’ila and Dajian Brown punctuated the rout. Counties Manukau managed a pair of tries through Latu’ila and Fou Sefo, but Auckland’s continuity and fitness left the visitors chasing shadows.

Standout performances included hooker Po’e Tofaeono’s sharp decision-making, Mete-Renata’s incisive running, and Bason’s breakdown work. Counties’ defensive work, led by Paris Mataroa, provided moments of resistance, but Auckland’s relentless rhythm proved decisive.

AUCKLAND STORM: 57
TRIES: 9 (Cilia-Marie Po’e Tofaeono 25′; Amarante Sititi 32′; Glory Aiono Samuelu 49′, 61′; Gillian Fa’aumu 55′; Dajian Brown 73′; Taufa Bason 68′; Danny-Elle Fesolai 76′, 79′)
CONS: 6 (Emacyn Ieremia 49′, 55′, 61′; Aleiyah Tuala 68′, 76′, 79′)

COUNTIES MANUKAU HEAT: 12
TRIES: 2 (Mele Latu’ila 42′; Fou Sefo 64′)
CONS: 1 (Paris Mataroa 42′)

Canterbury asserted their authority in the Premiership with a clinical 46–12 victory over Bay of Plenty in Christchurch. The Red and Blacks struck early, scoring three tries within the opening eight minutes, with Lialanie Muamua, Holly Wratt-Groeneweg, and Louise Blyde exploiting gaps in the Volcanix defence. Canterbury’s rolling maul was particularly effective, allowing hooker Nicole Purdom and the loose forwards to create pressure and scoring opportunities.

Despite trailing 20–0 at halftime, Bay of Plenty showed grit, with forwards led by ex-Black Fern hooker Luka Connor driving momentum and flanker Tynealle Fitzgerald making numerous tackles and charges. However, Canterbury’s defence, combined with smart recycling and quick support play, stifled the visitors’ attacking platform. In the second half, Wratt-Groeneweg added another brace, while Muamua and Blyde sealed the bonus-point win.

Standout performers were Muamua, Wratt-Groeneweg, and Purdom, while the backline’s speed and precision underlined Canterbury’s attacking threat. Bay of Plenty’s Jessie Wharekura and Fitzgerald were industrious, but the Red and Blacks’ clinical execution in set pieces and open play proved decisive.

CANTERBURY: 46
TRIES: 7 (Lialanie Muamua 2′, 68′; Holly Wratt-Groeneweg 6′, 49′; Nicole Purdom 20′; Louise Blyde 8′, 72′)
CONS: 2 (Poppy Baxter 49′, 72′; Muamua 68′)

BAY OF PLENTY VOLCANIX: 12
TRIES: 2 (Jessie Wharekura 58′; Tynealle Fitzgerald 77′)
CONS: 1 (Hope Parata-Kingi 77′)

Waikato overcame an early scare from Hawke’s Bay to record a 60–17 victory at Memorial Park, retaining the JJ Stewart Trophy and securing a Premiership semi-final berth. The Tui started brightly, taking a 17–14 lead within the first 30 minutes thanks to early tries from Amber McKenzie, Denise Aiolupotea, and Olioli Mua. Waikato, resting several key players, needed time to find their rhythm but gradually asserted themselves through structured forward play and incisive runs from second five Rina Paraone.

Once settled, Waikato’s attacking machine came to life. Lela Ieremia scored a hat-trick, while Keelah Bodle, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, Chyann Kaitapu, and Montessa Tairakena all crossed, combining to overturn the deficit and dominate the second half. Nyesha Hamilton’s consistent kicking added to Waikato’s scoreboard pressure. Standout performers included Tuliau-Tua’a’s powerful breaks, Ieremia’s finishing, and Paraone’s midfield orchestration.

Hawke’s Bay continued to fight, with contributions from McKenzie and Mareikura, but Waikato’s superior fitness and attacking depth proved decisive. The hosts’ ability to absorb early pressure and convert opportunities into points underscores their quality heading into the semi-finals against Auckland.

WAIKATO: 60
TRIES: 10 (Keelah Bodle 15′, 54′; Lela Ieremia 22′, 37′, 65′; Chyann Kaitapu 43′; Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a 48′, 70′, 76′; Montessa Tairakena 79′)
CONS: 5 (Nyesha Hamilton 22′, 43′, 48′, 65′, 70′)

HAWKE’S BAY TUI: 17
TRIES: 3 (Amber McKenzie 12′; Denise Aiolupotea 20′; Olioli Mua 28′)
CONS: 1 (Cassie Siataga 28′)