1 Nov 2020

Canterbury drop into the relegation zone

6:52 pm on 1 November 2020

Bay of Plenty have beaten Hawke's Bay in Tauranga to send Canterbury to the bottom of the men's national provincial premiership.

Bay of Plenty player Kaleb Trask goes in for a try during their huge win over Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup match played at Tauranga Domain in Tauranga on Saturday 24 October 2020.
2 October 2020.

Kaleb Trask scores a try for Bay of Plenty Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020

The Steamers have won the 'Battle of the Bays' 22-17, after trailing 17-15 at halftime.

Bay of Plenty fullback Kaleb Trask scored the only try of the second-half to secure the come-from-behind win.

Trask and Emoni Narawa dotted down for the Steamers in the first-half, while Lolagi Visinia, Jonah Lowe and Ash Dixon all crossed for Hawke's Bay.

Bay of Plenty have risen to fifth in the premiership and are now three points outside the top four with two rounds to play.

North Harbour's a point back in sixth, with Canterbury now seventh and in the relegation zone.

Manawatu fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder during the Mitre 10 Cup rugby match between Manawatu and Northland, held at Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand.  13  September  2020

Manawatū fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020

Meanwhile, Manawatū have recorded their first win of the season.

The Turbos have beaten Southland 24-12 in the first first-class rugby match in Feidling for 37 years, after leading 17-7 at halftime.

Liam Mitchell, Te Rangatira Waitokia, Nigel Ah Wong and Ben Wyness scored tries for Manawatūto secure a bonus point.

Logan Crowley and Greg Pleasants-Tate dotted down for Southland.

The result moved the Turbos off the bottom of the championship ladder for a couple of hours, before Counties-Manukau upset Taranaki in the final match of the round in Inglewood.

Kieran Read.
Counties Manukau v Wellington at the Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe, Auckland on Sunday 25th October 2020.

Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020

Kieran Read made sure he signed off a winner by earning Counties a penalty in the 88th minute to secure the Steelers a dramatic 31-27 victory.

The former All Blacks captain will now resume his commitments with his club in Japan.

Substitute Etene Nanai-Seturo scored the match-winning try for Counties in the 77th minute.

It was their bonus point try after Jason Robertson, Jonathan Taumateine and Kirisi Kuridrani had also dotted down for the Steelers.

Taranaki also scored four tries to come away with two bonus points.

They remain fourth on the championship ladder, a point behind Northland, while Counties are sixth, a point clear of Manawatū.