KEY POINTS:
The pillars of New Zealand domestic rugby have been rocked as minnows Manawatu, Counties-Manukau and Northland scored unlikely wins in the opening round of the Air NZ Cup championship.
Northland began the trend with an 18-10 win over Waikato then Manawatu edged Canterbury 25-24 yesterday before Counties-Manukau beat neighbours and reigning champions Auckland 17-6 at Pukekohe today.
Manawatu returned to Palmerston North as conquering heroes today after ending a 26-year drought against Canterbury with a 25-24 win in Christchurch.
Despite having scrubbed out last year's 10-64 rout by Canterbury, Manawatu coach Dave Rennie played down the achievement as he sought to keep his team grounded.
"We enjoyed the moment but now we've got to move on - the important thing for us is that we back this up on Friday against Southland," he told NZPA today.
Rennie, whose team were greeted on their return home by a crowd of family and friends and Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor, said the victory was a tribute to his team's growing maturity.
They had lost eight matches and drew one in the 2006 championship and last year notched just two wins and a draw.
"We got behind on the scoreboard against Canterbury but the boys showed some composure to get in front and then hang on."
The win was constructed from a strong forward performance and a couple of brilliant individual touches by wing Andre Taylor which turned the game Manawatu's way.
First five-eighth Matty James also played a key role, contributing a first-half try and kicking two penalties and two conversions.
Canterbury led 10-7 before Manawatu hit back through Taylor with his first try but Canterbury centre Adam Whitelock then scored twice in quick succession.
James' two penalties kept Manawatu in touch until Taylor scored a second try seven minutes from fulltime.
It turned out to be the winner after Canterbury's substitute goalkicker Colin Slade's 35m penalty from a difficult angle missed in the final second.
Counties-Manukau secured their first victory over Auckland since 1998 as their forwards outmuscled their more illustrious rivals in the set pieces and around the park.
The robust midfield pairing of Romi Ropati and Niva Ta'auso also caused Auckland all sorts of headaches.
Auckland led 3-0 at halftime with first-five Lachie Munro nailing a penalty from the left-hand touchline in the 30th minute, then added another to make it 6-0 shortly after the interval.
Counties-Manukau hit the lead for the first time 17 minutes into the second half when Ta'auso scored a try that was converted, setting the stage for Auckland's demise.
Tanner Vili slammed over a 48m dropped goal then sealed the win nine minutes out from fulltime when he burrowed over the tryline.
"It was a very special time for all of us out there today, it was just unbelievable," Counties-Manukau captain Dave Duley said.
Northland defended stoutly and struck with a try in each half to topple Waikato in Whangarei.
Up 13-3 at halftime but playing into a strong wind in the second spell, Northland dug in and sealed the result through a brilliant breakout try to fullback Jared Payne with 20 minutes remaining.
Last season's runnersup Wellington were the only big names to escape unscathed as they saw off Hawke's Bay 30-6 in Wellington.
Hawke's Bay, whose giant-killing run to last year's semifinals was launched by their second round 8-6 win over Wellington, had no answer as the hosts scored four tries to none for a bonus-point win.
In other matches, Otago reasserted themselves in one of domestic sport's most enduring rivalries with a thrilling 25-23 win over Southland today.
The outcome was not secured until the last act of the game when rookie first five-eighth Chris Noakes landed a 47m penalty after an 18-point haul from his Southland counterpart Blair Stewart seemed destined to deny Otago.
In New Plymouth, Taranaki beat North Harbour 20-13 while Bay of Plenty overcame Tasman 8-7 in Blenheim.
- NZPA
