The Wellington Lions arrested a two-match slide in summery conditions at Waikato Stadium.

The relegation scrap in the ITM Cup Premiership took another turn after last-placed Manawatu earned an important victory over North Harbour.

Skipper Jamie Mackintosh was sent off as Otago ran in eight tries to smash Southland in the ITM Cup.

Counties moved up to fifth on the ITM Cup Premiership ladder with an upset bonus point win over Tasman.

The Bay of Plenty Steamers did enough to remain in the Championship semifinals calculations in this dreary encounter in Whangarei.

The return of loose forward Chris Vui is the big plus for North Harbour as they plan for their fourth and final crossover match tomorrow night.

Hawke's Bay have made an 11th successful defence of the Ranfurly Shield after a gritty second half saw them to a 17-12 win over Auckland.

Relive all the action from tonight's Ranfurly Shield challenge as Hawke's Bay retained the Log O' Wood again Ranfurly Shield.

Auckland go Ranfurly Shield hunting tonight in Napier.

Auckland today handed ITM Cup leaders Tasman their first loss of the season with a superb defensive display.

Japan's try-scoring hero in their shock win over the Spingboks was Karne Hesketh, who played rugby for Otago from 2006 to 2010.

North Harbour huffed and puffed but could not blow down the Canterbury stockade in the ITM Cup today.

Counties Manukau hauled themselves off the foot of the Premiership table with a bonus point win over Northland.

Southland broke a sequence of four ITM Cup losses with a record-breaking display which had Manawatu scrambling.

Hawke's Bay edged a step closer to securing the Ranfurly Shield for the summer after surviving the fierce challenge of Bay of Plenty.

Taranaki created some separation between the Premiership's top four and the rest of the pack after cruising to a crushing home win over Waikato.

An extraordinary last minute try to centre Matt Faddes gave Otago a 37-36 Championship victory in the rain- and wind-swept capital.

Tasman scored six tries without ever totally dominating, but have the maximum 30 points from six games and are sitting pretty atop the Premiership table.

Manawatu broke their duck and extended Northland's own winless streak with a commanding performance in Palmerston North today.

Auckland have reclaimed the Lin Colling Memorial Trophy and cemented third position on the ITM Cup Premiership table.

Canterbury seared into Hawke's Bay with a brand of rugby other teams will struggle to match for accuracy and abrasiveness across the ITM Cup.

Title-winning form is proving elusive but three straight wins for Taranaki will have the front-runners looking over their shoulders.

North Harbour ground out a vital and ultimately merited upset 28-20 victory at home against Counties Manukau.

There may be two more debuts for a young Auckland side named to face Otago in an ITM Cup crossover clash tomorrow

A battle of unbeaten sides saw Tasman top Wellington in the capital tonight but both teams continued to resemble potential title-winners.