MITRE 10 CUP REVIEW: Round Two
Sunday, August 27, 2017 Lynn McConnell Getty Images
They added a 42-26 win over Taranaki on Saturday to their win over Manawatu a week earlier to set the early running in the Championship. Any win over a Premiership side is something of a bonus and demonstrated that it can be competitive in the upper echelons of the competition.
QUICK TAP: RANFURLY SHIELD FRIGHT FOR CANTERBURY AGAINST OTAGO
Canterbury remain the frontrunner, as they always would be given their remarkable record, after something of a fright in their 30-24 win over Otago in Christchurch on Sunday.
This was never going to be a game noted for its clinical efficiency. The rivalry between the sides is too great to allow that to happen and the right amount of Otago doggedness ensured Canterbury had to fight all the way to claim their win.
But the loss left Otago without a win so far, although its two games have been against premiership sides.
Auckland were left with plenty to think about after getting their first win of the campaign, 10-8 over Northland in a slug fest at Eden Park. It doesn't get any easier for Auckland with a home game on Wednesday against Waikato and then a trip over the harbour bridge where North Harbour are waiting on Sunday.
North Harbour turned it on in the later stages to get a 45-20 win over Southland in Invercargill to leave the home side, like Tasman and Otago, as the only sides still without a win in the two sections.
Bay of Plenty bounced back from their loss to Northland to beat Hawke's Bay 46-17 in Rotorua, an impressive display which augurs well for the side as they eye up a Premiership run.
Waikato completed the round with a good home effort to beat their northern neighbours Counties Manukau 33-21 in a keen contest.
Some early impressions are being made in relation to individual honours. Wellington's Jackson Garden-Bachop heads the individual scoring with 30 points while Mike Delany has 27 for Bay of Plenty and Waikato No.8 Jordan Manihera has five tries to top that section while also sitting in third on the overall points list. Canterbury's Richie Mo'unga has 22 points and Hawke's Bay's Ihaia West 21.
QUICK TAP: RANFURLY SHIELD FRIGHT FOR CANTERBURY AGAINST OTAGO
Canterbury remain the frontrunner, as they always would be given their remarkable record, after something of a fright in their 30-24 win over Otago in Christchurch on Sunday.
This was never going to be a game noted for its clinical efficiency. The rivalry between the sides is too great to allow that to happen and the right amount of Otago doggedness ensured Canterbury had to fight all the way to claim their win.
But the loss left Otago without a win so far, although its two games have been against premiership sides.
Auckland were left with plenty to think about after getting their first win of the campaign, 10-8 over Northland in a slug fest at Eden Park. It doesn't get any easier for Auckland with a home game on Wednesday against Waikato and then a trip over the harbour bridge where North Harbour are waiting on Sunday.
DUANE MONKELY MEDAL LEADERBOARD | The votes are in and we have our top 10! Find out more about the award here: https://t.co/ScSp7RZ978 pic.twitter.com/zi28GygPV7— Mitre10 Cup (@Mitre10Cup) August 27, 2017Manawatu welcomed back some old hands to claim their first win of the season, 35-20 over Tasman in Palmerston North on Sunday afternoon. Tries to Nick Crosswell and Kurt Baker demonstrated the worth of experience at this level.
North Harbour turned it on in the later stages to get a 45-20 win over Southland in Invercargill to leave the home side, like Tasman and Otago, as the only sides still without a win in the two sections.
Bay of Plenty bounced back from their loss to Northland to beat Hawke's Bay 46-17 in Rotorua, an impressive display which augurs well for the side as they eye up a Premiership run.
Waikato completed the round with a good home effort to beat their northern neighbours Counties Manukau 33-21 in a keen contest.
Some early impressions are being made in relation to individual honours. Wellington's Jackson Garden-Bachop heads the individual scoring with 30 points while Mike Delany has 27 for Bay of Plenty and Waikato No.8 Jordan Manihera has five tries to top that section while also sitting in third on the overall points list. Canterbury's Richie Mo'unga has 22 points and Hawke's Bay's Ihaia West 21.
Who are your picks for #Mitre10Cup Round 3? pic.twitter.com/TERYMFIYCy— Mitre10 Cup (@Mitre10Cup) August 27, 2017
