Southland 19
Bay of Plenty 12
Tasman 23
Waikato 9
Southland fended off Bay of Plenty in Invercargill last night to take over as outright leaders of the national rugby championship.
Rising star Robbie Robinson, returning from injury, landed five out of five goals for 14 points, and also set up the game's only try.
This was historic for little Southland, who are in unchartered waters at the head of the table. They could be joined by Canterbury at the conclusion of the seventh round.
Southland and Bay of Plenty in a top-of-the-table clash? Who would have thought it?
Both unions have come from dark places. Ten seasons ago, Southland finished last and winless in the first division, while the Bay were beaten in the second division final.
They are all grown up now, or as much as can be expected under the current professional systems.
Last night's occasion, the chance to fire up the boosters towards a playoff place, proved a bit much for both teams, who lacked true title challenging composure. A return of just one try reflected that this was not rugby of the highest order.
It was a wild and woolly affair, but also fabulous entertainment - assisted by a vibrant, chanting Southland crowd.
The game contained more turnovers than a bakery, with both sides reckless in their care of the ball. But it was quite thrilling recklessness.
The contest exploded in the second quarter, after a dreadful opening stanza not worthy of the two NPC leaders.
The roaring Southland Stags scrum apart, the first quarter or so was of poor quality, riddled with errors with only very sporadic outbursts of rugby.
Around the 28th minute, the whole tone of the match changed. With Southland leading 9-3, their fullback Glen Horton knocked the ball infield from a Bay of Plenty kick and Robinson set off from his 22 metre line.
It was a terrific run, carried on by John Hardie, and finished off with a galloping charge by lock Joe Tuineau to the tryline.
The game ignited at this point with Bay of Plenty putting on a fine spell of sustained pressure, although they failed to crack the home side's defence.
There was something else from the past as well, a coathanger tackle by Southland captain Jamie Mackintosh on Bay of Plenty wing Jason Hona, who didn't have the ball at the time.
That earned massive prop Mackintosh a well deserved 10 minute sin binning right on the sound of the halftime hooter.
Southland 19 (Joe Tuineau try; Robbie Robinson 4 pen, con)
Bay of Plenty 12 (Mike Delany 4 pen). HT: 16-6.
Tasman kept in the hunt for a semifinal place with a solid win over out-of-sorts Waikato at Lansdown Road in Blenheim.
A sparkling 50m try by Tasman second five-eighths Andrew Goodman just after halftime seemed to deflate any Waikato challenge as the southerners pulled away to an easy victory.
Goodman received the ball from the kickoff and raced to the short side, sidestepping and weaving between numerous Waikato players as he raced to the line without a hand being laid on him.
He led the Tasman effort with a personal haul of 15 points with his try, two conversions and two penalty goals.
In fact Tasman kept Waikato scoreless in the second half after they went to the break with a 10-9 lead.
The visitors had a big advantage in territory but Tasman, with superior possession and managing to turn over a lot of Waikato ball, kept the foot on the throat.
Tasman 23 (Afeleki Pelenise, Andrew Goodman tries; Goodman 2 pen, 2 con, Kahn Fotuali'i dropped goal)
Waikato 9 (Callum Bruce 3 pen). HT: 10-9.
