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.

Manawatu have returned to the top of the Championship table of the ITM Cup with a hard-fought 15-10 victory over Taranaki.

Southland signed off Carisbrook's 128-year history with a strangely anti-climactic 19-12 win over Otago in the last game at the grand old ground today.

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.

Canterbury ended a difficult week on a positive note by beating ITM Cup rugby rivals Manawatu 42-15 in Christchurch today.

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.

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

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.

Auckland paid the ultimate price for a multitude of handling errors as Canterbury fought out a high-scoring 40-33 win.

Bay of Plenty lead Counties Manukau in their ITM Cup clash at Bayer Growers stadium in Pukekohe.