Northland rewrite the history books
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In what is one of the great upsets in recent NPC history, Northland have rewritten the history books with a 35-5 victory over Wellington, the greatest victory between the sides since they first played in 1939.
The home team were brilliant, they were patient and while the Wellington Lions might have been their own worst enemies, capitalising so clinically on opposition mistakes is not always a formality – and Northland pounced.
The scoreline doesn’t tell the full story, with Wellington boasting the better of most statistics throughout the game, and while some might scoff at such suggestions, consider that the tourists spent close to quarter of an hour in Northland’s 22.
It was a dramatic turnaround after last year the Lions made the Premiership decider, while Northland finished sixth in the Championship.
* Meanwhile, Counties Manukau wrapped up their sixth successful Ranfurly Shield defence with a 29-25 win over Otago in their NPC rugby cross-over match at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Counties, who drew 9-9 with Taranaki last week, ran in four tries in an assured performance which only faltered in the last 10 minutes as Otago hit back with two late tries.
Week Two scores and scorers:
Northland 35-5 Wellington
Northland:
Tries: Macilai 2, Pryor 2, Dunn
Cons: Hawkins 2
Pens: Hawkins 2
Wellington:
Try: Woodward
Counties Manukau 29-25 Otago
Counties Manukau:
Tries: Hyatt, Raaymakers, Taufua, Stanley
Cons: Tuala 3
Pen: Tuala
Otago:
Tries: Coltman, Seiuli, Fuatai
Cons: Parker 2
Pens: Parker
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