Canterbury have come out on top against Waikato, winning 36-14 in their NPC clash in Hamilton on Saturday night.
It was a tight first half with Canterbury holding a 12-7 edge at the break. They should have had more, given a 73 percent territory stat in their favour, but the Waikato defence was staunch.
The two sides swapped tries early in the second half, and Canterbury led 19-14 for a long spell, before Andrew Knewstubb kicked a penalty for Canterbury in the
Three minutes later, No. 8 Finn McLeod, who scored his first NPC try in the first half, got another – and any slim chance that Waikato might get back was killed off when Knewstubb sprinted away from the home side and converted his own try.
In other matches on Saturday, Manawatū beat Bay of Plenty 29-12, and Tasman beat Wellington 42-28. On Friday night, Hawke’s Bay beat Otago 34-24.
Sunday’s matches are Counties Manukau versus Southland, and North Harbour taking on Northland.
See how tonight’s match unfolded below: