Taranaki have climbed to the top of the ITM Cup Premiership table with a 26-23 victory over Tasman at Yarrow Stadium.

Auckland scored 21 unanswered points in the secondhalf to triumph in the 'battle of the bridge' over North Harbour at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.

Waikato have defeated Counties Manukau 22-15 in a scrappy encounter at Bayer Growers Stadium in Pukekohe.

Live updates of today's two rugby matches, featuring two Super Rugby inter-franchise battles.

Canterbury outflanked Tasman 36-32 to record a bonus-point victory at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim.

Bay of Plenty have cemented their spot at the top of the ITM Cup ladder with a 32-0 victory over Wellington at Bay Park Stadium in Mt Maunganui.

Taranaki inflicted yet more doubt and uncertainty on Auckland with a ITM Cup win at New Plymouth today.

Live updates from all of today's rugby and league action with two ITM Cup clashes and three NRL encounters.

Waikato notched their second win of the ITM Cup when they beat Tasman 33-6 in Hamilton tonight.

Southland successfully defended the Ranfurly Shield with a gutsy win in the wet to beat Counties Manukau 22-14 at Rugby Park in Invercargill.

nzherald.co.nz brings you live coverage of tonight's matches from the ITM Cup and NRL.

Counties Manukau might not have thrown the kitchen sink at Tasman, but they did throw the Bason on - and it proved decisive.

Hawke's Bay ended Otago's unbeaten start to the ITM Cup and emerge with a 27-13 victory at McLean Park.

nzherald brings you live scoring of today's ITM Cup and NRL matches.

Bay of Plenty outflanked North Harbour to clinch a 38-17 victory over North Harbour in Mt Maunganui.

Put Auckland's early woes down to a sloppy mental side of the game rather than anything to do with their playing ability, according to coach Mark Anscombe.

The ground is being prepared for a revolution in Auckland club rugby, with talks under way for a semi-professional competition featuring fewer clubs.