2021 Bunnings NPC

2021 Bunnings NPC season
Countries	New Zealand
Date	6 August – 20 November
Champions	Waikato
Runners-up	Tasman
Matches played	53
Tries scored	353 (average 6.7 per match)
Top point scorer	Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki) 172 points
Top try scorer	Leicester Fainga'anuku (Tasman) 8 tries
Official website
www.provincial.rugby

The 2021 Bunnings NPC season was the sixteenth season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition since it turned professional in 2006. The regular season began on August 6, when Manawatu hosted Counties Manukau. It involved the top fourteen rugby unions of New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, the competition was known as the Bunnings NPC and it was the first season under the lead sponsor and to carry the NPC moniker since 2005. The winner of the Championship, Taranaki wasn't promoted to the Premiership due to a format restructure earlier in the season. The seventh placed Premiership team, Auckland wasn't relegated to the Championship after not being able to compete after the resurgence of COVID-19 in the Auckland region.

Format

The Bunnings NPC standings were sorted by a competition points system. Four points were awarded to the winning team, a draw equaled two points, whilst a loss amounted to zero points. Unions could also win their side a respectable bonus point. To receive a bonus point, they must have scored four tries or more or lose by seven or fewer points or less. Each team was placed on their total points received. If necessary of a tiebreaker, when two or more teams finish on equal points, the union who defeated the other in a head-to-head got placed higher. In case of a draw between them, the side with the biggest points deferential margin got rights to be ranked above. If they were tied on points difference, it was then decided by a highest scored try count or a coin toss. This seeding format was implemented since the beginning of the 2006 competition.

The competition included a promotion-relegation process with the winner of the Championship receiving automatic promotion to the Premiership, replacing the seventh-placed team in the Premiership which was relegated to the Championship for the following year. The regular season consisted of two types of matches. The internal division matches were when each team played the other six unions in their division once, home or away. The cross-division matches were when each team played four teams from the other division, thus missing out on three teams, each from the opposite division. Each union played home or away games against teams from the other division, making a total of ten competition games for each union. The finals format allowed the top four teams from each division move on to the semi-finals. The top two division winners, based on table points, received a home semi-final. In the first round of the finals, the semi-finals, the second division winner hosted the third division winner, and the first division winner hosted the fourth division winner. The final was hosted by the top remaining seed.

Standings

Source: Bunnings NPC standings 2021

Premiership Division
#	Team	GP	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TB	LB	AP	PTS
1	RS – Hawke's Bay	8	7	0	1	280	197	+83	6	0	4	38
2	Waikato	9	5	0	4	261	264	–3	6	2	2	30
3	Canterbury	9	5	0	4	228	242	–14	4	2	2	28
4	Tasman	8	5	0	3	240	187	+53	3	1	4	28
5	Wellington	8	3	0	5	270	226	+44	5	4	4	25
6	Bay of Plenty	8	3	0	5	222	252	–30	6	2	4	24
7	Auckland	2	1	0	1	46	40	+6	1	1	2	8

Championship Division
#	Team	GP	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TB	LB	AP	PTS
1	Taranaki	8	8	0	0	302	181	+121	3	0	4	39
2	Manawatu	8	4	0	4	239	229	+10	3	1	4	24
3	Otago	7	3	0	4	144	170	–26	0	2	6	20
4	Southland	7	1	0	6	134	222	–88	1	2	6	13
5	Northland	8	1	0	7	167	292	–125	3	1	4	12
6	North Harbour	2	1	0	1	29	34	–5	0	0	2	6
7	Counties Manukau	2	0	0	2	27	53	–26	0	0	2	2

Standings progression

Premiership
Team	W1	W2	W3	W4	W5	W6	W7	W8	W9	W10
Auckland	5 (3rd)	6 (4th)	6 (7th)	6 (7th)	6 (7th)	6 (7th)	8 (7th)	8 (7th)	8 (7th)	8 (7th)
Bay of Plenty	0 (6th)	5 (6th)	7 (6th)	8 (6th)	13 (5th)	13 (6th)	15 (6th)	15 (6th)	17 (6th)	24 (6th)
Canterbury	0 (5th)	5 (7th)	9 (4th)	13 (4th)	13 (4th)	15 (5th)	18 (5th)	19 (5th)	23 (5th)	28 (3rd)
Hawke's Bay	0 (7th)	5 (5th)	9 (3rd)	14 (2nd)	14 (3rd)	19 (1st)	26 (1st)	31 (1st)	36 (1st)	38 (1st)
Tasman	4 (4th)	8 (2nd)	13 (1st)	13 (3rd)	18 (1st)	18 (2nd)	20 (4th)	20 (4th)	23 (3rd)	28 (4th)
Waikato	5 (2nd)	10 (1st)	11 (2nd)	16 (1st)	17 (2nd)	17 (3rd)	21 (2nd)	21 (3rd)	26 (2nd)	30 (2nd)
Wellington	5 (1st)	7 (3rd)	8 (5th)	9 (5th)	11 (6th)	16 (4th)	21 (3rd)	23 (2nd)	23 (4th)	25 (5th)
Championship
Team	W1	W2	W3	W4	W5	W6	W7	W8	W9	W10
Counties Manukau	0 (6th)	0 (6th)	0 (7th)	0 (7th)	0 (7th)	0 (7th)	2 (7th)	2 (7th)	2 (7th)	2 (7th)
Manawatu	4 (1st)	5 (2nd)	5 (2nd)	9 (2nd)	13 (2nd)	18 (2nd)	20 (2nd)	21 (2nd)	22 (2nd)	24 (2nd)
North Harbour	0 (5th)	4 (3rd)	4 (3rd)	4 (3rd)	4 (4th)	4 (5th)	6 (5th)	6 (5th)	6 (6th)	6 (6th)
Northland	0 (7th)	0 (7th)	1 (6th)	1 (6th)	6 (3rd)	6 (3rd)	8 (4th)	8 (4th)	10 (4th)	12 (5th)
Otago	4 (3rd)	4 (4th)	4 (4th)	4 (4th)	4 (5th)	5 (4th)	11 (3rd)	15 (3rd)	15 (3rd)	20 (3rd)
Southland	1 (4th)	1 (5th)	1 (5th)	2 (5th)	2 (6th)	2 (6th)	4 (6th)	4 (6th)	9 (5th)	13 (4th)
Taranaki	4 (2nd)	9 (1st)	13 (1st)	18 (1st)	18 (1st)	22 (1st)	28 (1st)	33 (1st)	33 (1st)	39 (1st)
The table above shows a team's progression throughout the season. For each week, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall division log position in brackets.
Key:	win	draw	loss	bye

Regular season

The 2021 Bunnings NPC was originally scheduled to play across ten weeks. The competition started on Friday, August 6, with Manawatu taking on Counties Manukau at Central Energy Trust Arena. On August 18, New Zealand Rugby announced that all rugby in New Zealand would be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September it was confirmed the competition schedule would continue from Week 7 of the original draw. Auckland, Counties Manukau, Manawatu, North Harbour, Otago, and Southland would have byes due to covid restrictions. Therefore all rugby matches scheduled between the 20th and 29 August and 3rd to the 5th of September 2021 was postponed.

On 7 October 2021, it was later revealed the Auckland based teams, Auckland, Counties Manukau, and North Harbour would be withdrawn from the competition after being declined its third travel exemption application. A new draw was released for the remainding four weeks of the season. In addition non-competition matches were implemented so that teams that would have otherwise played Auckland region teams don't go two weeks without a match. These matches will not receive competition points.

Week 1

	6 August 2021	Manawatu	39–21	Counties Manukau	Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
	19:05 NZST	Try: Drew Wild  26' Brett Cameron  40' Ray Niuia  76' Con: Brett Cameron (3/3)  27', 40', 77' Pen: Brett Cameron (6/9)  7', 14', 33', 47', 53', 70'	Report	Try: Alamanda Motuga  45' Kalolo Tuiloma  80' Con: Jarrod Halliday (1/1)  46' Luteru Laulala (0/1) Pen: Jarrod Halliday (3/3)  4', 32', 37'	Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)

	7 August 2021	Taranaki	33–19	Hawke's Bay	Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
	14:05 NZST	Try: Bradley Slater  18', 51' Vereniki Tikoisolomone  80' Con: Stephen Perofeta (3/3)  19', 52', 80' Pen: Stephen Perofeta (4/5)  4', 10', 22', 26'	Report	Try: Lincoln McClutchie  31' Devan Flanders  40' Ash Dixon  68' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (1/2)  40' Tiaan Falcon (1/1)  69'	Referee: Jonathan Bredin (New Zealand)

	7 August 2021	Wellington	54–7	Northland	Sky Stadium, Wellington
	14:05 NZST	Try: Taine Plumtree  3', 5', 49' Peter Umaga-Jensen  35' Alex Fidow  38' Julian Savea  61' Bruce Kauika-Petersen  65' Brandyn Laursen  73' Con: Ruben Love (5/6)  4', 6', 36', 39', 50' Brandyn Laursen (2/2)  66', 74' Pen: Ruben Love (0/1)	Report	Try: Jordan Olsen  27' Con: Rivez Reihana (1/1)  28' Cards: Dan Hawkins  80'	Referee: Tipene Cottrell (New Zealand)

	7 August 2021	Otago	26–19	Southland	Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
	16:35 NZST	Try: Sam Gilbert  16' Freedom Vahaakolo  79' Con: Vilimoni Koroi (1/1)  17' Sam Gilbert (1/1)  80' Pen: Josh Ioane (1/1)  6' Vilimoni Koroi (3/3)  39', 62', 66'	Report	Try: Greg Pleasants-Tate  20' Con: Marty Banks (1/1)  21' Pen: Marty Banks (4/4)  40', 52', 56', 77'	Referee: Daniel Waenga (New Zealand)

	8 August 2021	Bay of Plenty	14–27	Tasman	Tauranga Domain, Tauranga
	14:05 NZST	Try: Luke Campbell  27' Sean Wainui  43' Con: Kaleb Trask (2/2)  28', 44' Pen: Kaleb Trask (0/1)	Report	Try: Tim O'Malley  39' Quentin MacDonald  47', 55' Con: Mitchell Hunt (3/3)  39', 48', 55' Pen: Mitchell Hunt (2/2)  18', 31'	Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

	8 August 2021	North Harbour	15–28	Waikato	QBE Stadium, Albany
	14:05 NZST	Try: Bryn Hall  10' Moses Leo  72' Con: Bryn Gatland (1/2)  73' Pen: Bryn Gatland (1/1)  8'	Report	Try: Mosese Dawai  35', 62' Sekope Lopeti-Moli  44' Mitch Jacobson  59' Con: Fletcher Smith (4/4)  37', 45', 60', 64' Pen: Fletcher Smith (0/1)	Referee: Nick Hogan (New Zealand)

	8 August 2021	Auckland	35–24	Canterbury	Eden Park, Auckland
	16:35 NZST	Try: AJ Lam  3', 23', 34' Harry Plummer  76' Con: Harry Plummer (3/4)  24', 36', 77' Pen: Harry Plummer (3/4)  11', 14', 61'	Report	Try: Manasa Mataele  43' Corey Kellow  48' Shilo Klein  72' Con: Fergus Burke (3/3)  44', 49', 73' Pen: Fergus Burke (1/1)  32'	Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

Week 2

	13 August 2021	Counties Manukau	6–14	North Harbour	Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
	19:05 NZST	Pen: Jarrod Halliday (2/3)  44', 68'	Report	Try: Shaun Stevenson  70' Con: Bryn Gatland (0/1) Pen: Bryn Gatland (3/3)  6', 24', 38'	Referee: Daniel Waenga (New Zealand)

	14 August 2021	Tasman	16–11	Auckland	Trafalgar Park, Nelson
	14:05 NZST	Try: Leicester Fainga'anuku  69' Con: Mitchell Hunt (1/1)  70' Pen: Mitchell Hunt (3/6)  25', 40', 58' Cards: Pari Pari Parkinson  80'	Report	Try: Salesi Rayasi  33' Con: Harry Plummer (0/1) Pen: Harry Plummer (2/3)  8', 31'	Referee: Jonathan Bredin (New Zealand)

	14 August 2021	Canterbury	25–22	Manawatu	Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
	14:05 NZST	Try: Chay Fihaki  6', 32' Shilo Klein  20' Mitchell Drummond  44' Con: Fergus Burke (1/4)  33' Pen: Fergus Burke (1/1)  56'	Report	Try: Logan Henry  4' Jarred Adams  68' Shamus Hurley-Langton  75' Con: Brett Cameron (2/3)  4', 69' Pen: Brett Cameron (1/1)  25'	Referee: Marcus Playle (New Zealand)

	14 August 2021	RS – Hawke's Bay	34–10	Otago	McLean Park, Napier
	16:35 NZST	Try: Neria Fomai  29' Lolagi Visinia  35' Stacey Ili  52' Josh Kaifa  65' Jonah Lowe  80' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (2/3)  30', 36' Tiaan Falcon (1/2)  80' Pen: Tiaan Falcon (1/1)  72'	Report	Try: Freedom Vahaakolo  19' Con: Vilimoni Koroi (1/1)  20' Pen: Vilimoni Koroi (1/2)  42'	Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

	15 August 2021	Waikato	43–37	Wellington	FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
	14:05 NZST	Try: Mosese Dawai  5' Jack Lam  49' Ollie Norris  55' Cortez-Lee Ratima  65' Liam Messam  68' Liam Coombes-Fabling  73' Con: Fletcher Smith (5/6)  50', 56', 66', 69', 74' Pen: Fletcher Smith (1/1)  11'	Report	Try: Pepesana Patafilo  18', 20' Du'Plessis Kirifi  26' Julian Savea  36' Peter Umaga-Jensen  39' Con: Ruben Love (3/5)  28', 38', 40' Pen: Ruben Love (1/3)  9' Brandyn Laursen (1/1)  60' Cards: Julian Savea 43' to 53'	Referee: Cameron Stone (New Zealand)

	15 August 2021	Southland	11–31	Bay of Plenty	Rugby Park, Invercargill
	14:05 NZST	Try: Charles Alaimalo  47' Con: Greg Dyer (0/1) Pen: Greg Dyer (0/1) Marty Banks (2/2)  60', 67' Cards: Charles Alaimalo  77'	Report	Try: Mitchell Karpik  22' Sean Wainui  56' Onisi Ratave  68' Nikora Broughton  78' Con: Kaleb Trask (4/4)  23', 57', 69', 79' Pen: Kaleb Trask (1/2)  39'	Referee: Michael Winter (New Zealand)

	15 August 2021	Northland	14–48	Taranaki	Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei
	16:35 NZST	Try: Leka Tu'ungafasi  10' Kaliopasi Uluilakepa  64' Con: Rivez Reihana (2/2)  11', 64' Pen: Rivez Reihana (0/1) Cards: Isi Manu  43'	Report	Try: Daniel Waite  36' Ricky Riccitelli  47' Kini Naholo  52', 70' Shaan Waite  60' Daniel Rona  72' Con: Stephen Perofeta (6/6)  36', 48', 54', 61', 71', 73' Pen: Stephen Perofeta (2/2)  33', 43'	Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)

Week 3

	17 September 2021	Waikato	19–20	Canterbury	FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
	19:05 NZST	Try: Samipeni Finau  40' Sam Cooper  68' Tepaea Cook-Savage  80' Con: Fletcher Smith (2/3)  40', 69' Pen: Fletcher Smith (0/1)	Report	Try: Waisake Naholo  15' Henry Stowers  50' Fergus Burke  73' Con: Fergus Burke (1/3)  51' Pen: Fergus Burke (1/1)  64'	Referee: Cameron Stone (New Zealand)

	18 September 2021	Taranaki	32–26	Wellington	TET Stadium & Events Centre, Inglewood
	14:05 NZST	Try: Stephen Perofeta  5' Michael Bent  21' Jayson Potroz  27' Con: Stephen Perofeta (1/3)  28' Pen: Stephen Perofeta (5/6)  37', 43', 49', 59', 66' Cards: Teihorangi Walden 40' to 50'	Report	Try: Wes Goosen  9' Pepesana Patafilo  40' Sam Smith  70' Con: Aidan Morgan (0/2) Ruben Love (1/1)  71' Pen: Aidan Morgan (3/3)  4', 32', 53'	Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)

	18 September 2021	Northland	29–48	Tasman	Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei
	16:35 NZST	Try: Sam Nock  9' Scott Gregory  28' Kaliopasi Uluilakepa  40' Jordan Olsen  49' Raikabula Momoedonu  76' Con: Rivez Reihana (1/4)  50' Johnny Cooper (1/1)  77' Pen: Rivez Reihana (0/1)	Report	Try: Jacob Norris  15' Leicester Fainga'anuku  23', 60' Mitchell Hunt  25' Mark Telea  32', 69' Timoci Tavatavanawai  63' Shannon Frizell  80' Con: Mitchell Hunt (4/8)  24', 33', 69', 80'	Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

	19 September 2021	RS – Hawke's Bay	36–33 (a.e.t.)	Bay of Plenty	McLean Park, Napier
	14:05 NZST	Try: Ash Dixon  14' Solomone Funaki  21' Pouri Rakete-Stones  31' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (3/3)  15', 22', 32' Pen: Lincoln McClutchie (3/3)  29', 37', 63' Tiaan Falcon (2/2)  80', 84'	Report	Try: Emoni Narawa  5' Luke Campbell  18' Onisi Ratave  25', 77' Sean Wainui  59' Con: Kaleb Trask (2/3)  19', 26' Otere Black (2/2)  60', 78' Pen: Kaleb Trask (0/1)	Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Bye/s: Auckland, Counties Manukau, Manawatu, North Harbour, Otago, and Southland

Week 4

	24 September 2021	Tasman	22–39	Waikato	Trafalgar Park, Nelson
	19:05 NZST	Try: Leicester Fainga'anuku  52' Shannon Frizell  67' Andrew Makalio  72' Con: Mitchell Hunt (2/3)  52', 68' Pen: Mitchell Hunt (1/2)  3'	Report	Try: Matthew Lansdown  24' Liam Coombes-Fabling  27', 77' Gideon Wrampling  42' Cortez-Lee Ratima  55' Con: Fletcher Smith (4/5)  25', 43', 56', 79' Pen: Fletcher Smith (2/2)  14', 63' Cards: Steven Misa 31' to 41' Hamilton Burr 66' to 76'	Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

	25 September 2021	Manawatu	31–19	Northland	Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
	14:05 NZST	Try: Ed Fidow  21' Brayden Iose  27' Taniela Filimone  73' Con: Brett Cameron (2/3)  22', 28' Pen: Brett Cameron (4/5)  13', 16', 50', 57'	Report	Try: Jone Macilai-Tori  60' Jonah Mau'u  64' Kaliopasi Uluilakepa  80' Con: Rivez Reihana (0/1) Johnny Cooper (2/2)  66', 80' Cards: Noah Cooper 15' to 25'	Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

	25 September 2021	Southland	16–19 (a.e.t.)	Canterbury	Rugby Park, Invercargill
	16:05 NZST	Try: Josh Moorby  14' Con: Marty Banks (1/1)  16' Pen: Marty Banks (3/5)  32', 61', 71' Cards: Chris Apoua 52' to 62'	Report	Try: Luke Romano  54' Con: Fergus Burke (1/1)  55' Pen: Fergus Burke (4/4)  7', 20', 22', 85' Jack Debreczeni (0/1)	Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)

	26 September 2021	Wellington	28–31	Hawke's Bay	Sky Stadium, Wellington
	14:05 NZST	Try: Vince Aso  67' Tyrone Thompson  78', 80' Con: Ruben Love (2/3)  79', 80' Pen: Aidan Morgan (3/3)  35', 42', 47'	Report	Try: Ash Dixon  10' Jonah Lowe  21' Lolagi Visinia  37' Solomone Funaki  71' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (3/3)  11', 22', 38' Tiaan Falcon (1/1)  72' Pen: Lincoln McClutchie (1/1)  3'	Referee: Stuart Curran (New Zealand)

	26 September 2021	Bay of Plenty	28–55	Taranaki	Tauranga Domain, Tauranga
	16:35 NZST	Try: Aidan Ross  26' Sekuini Tanimo  63' Viliami Tosi  71' Chase Tiatia  74' Con: Otere Black (4/4)  27', 64', 72', 75'	Report	Try: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens  18', 32' Logan Crowley  40' Kini Naholo  53' Vereniki Tikoisolomone  59', 80' Liam Blyde  65' Con: Stephen Perofeta (7/7)  19', 33', 40', 54', 60', 66', 80' Pen: Stephen Perofeta (2/2)  5', 58'	Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

Bye/s: Auckland, Counties Manukau, North Harbour, and Otago

Week 5

	1 October 2021	Northland	38–28	Waikato	Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei
	19:05 NZST	Try: Jone Macilai-Tori  16' Kara Pryor  23' Sam Nock  38' Blake Hohaia  46' Sam McNamara  79' Con: Dan Hawkins (5/5)  18', 25', 39', 48', 80' Pen: Dan Hawkins (1/2)  40'	Report	Try: Liam Coombes-Fabling  8', 53', 73' Mitch Jacobson  43' Con: Fletcher Smith (4/4)  10', 44', 54', 75' Cards: D'Angelo Leuila  70'	Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

	2 October 2021	Bay of Plenty	33–32	Wellington	Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
	14:05 NZST	Try: Alefosio Tapili  16' Justin Sangster  35' Leroy Carter  48' Viliami Tosi  61' Emoni Narawa  80' Con: Otere Black (3/4)  17', 36', 80' Luke Campbell (1/1)  62'	Report	Try: James O'Reilly  19' Tomasi Alosio  40' Aidan Morgan  45' Sam Smith  66' Tyrone Thompson  71' Richard Judd  75' Con: Ruben Love (1/4)  40' Aidan Morgan (0/2)	Referee: Cameron Stone (New Zealand)

	2 October 2021	Manawatu	27–14	Otago	Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
	16:35 NZST	Try: Tima Fainga'anuku  9' Josiah Maraku  17' Jarred Adams  42' Con: Brett Cameron (3/3)  10', 18', 43' Pen: Brett Cameron (2/4)  30', 57' Cards: Flyn Yates 65' to 75'	Report	Try: Dylan Nel  26' James Lentjes  66' Con: Josh Ioane (2/2)  27', 67'	Referee: Tipene Cottrell (New Zealand)

	3 October 2021	Tasman	51–14	Southland	Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
	14:05 NZST	Try: Timoci Tavatavanawai  2', 8' Macca Springer  11' Leicester Fainga'anuku  22', 61' Levi Aumua  34' Regan Ware  72' Con: Mitchell Hunt (5/6)  9', 12', 23', 35', 63' William Havili (0/1) Pen: Mitchell Hunt (2/2)  27', 32'	Report	Try: Marty Banks  29' Solomon Alaimalo  43' Con: Marty Banks (2/2)  30', 44'	Referee: Jonathan Bredin (New Zealand)

Bye/s: Auckland, Canterbury, Counties Manukau, Hawke's Bay, North Harbour, and Taranaki

Week 6

	8 October 2021	Wellington	35–30 (a.e.t.)	Canterbury	Sky Stadium, Wellington
	19:05 NZST	Try: Peter Umaga-Jensen  2', 82' Du'Plessis Kirifi  13' Alex Fidow  80' Con: Ruben Love (3/3)  3', 14', 80' Pen: Ruben Love (3/3)  7', 40', 48' Cards: Alex Fidow 50' to 60'	Report	Try: Manasa Mataele  23', 51' Josh McKay  36' Chay Fihaki  58' Con: Fergus Burke (2/4)  37', 53' Pen: Fergus Burke (2/2)  16', 73' Cards: Luke Romano  80'	Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

	9 October 2021	RS – Hawke's Bay	34–22	Tasman	McLean Park, Napier
	16:35 NZST	Try: Ere Enari  4' Brendon O'Connor  14' Lolagi Visinia  17' Stacey Ili  29' Neria Fomai  56' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (3/5)  15', 30', 58' Pen: Lincoln McClutchie (0/1) Tiaan Falcon (1/1)  79'	Report	Try: Shannon Frizell  34' Con: Mitchell Hunt (1/1)  35' Pen: Mitchell Hunt (5/5)  11', 21', 28', 40', 53'	Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)

	9 October 2021	Otago	23–30	Taranaki	Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
	19:05 NZST	Try: Sio Tomkinson  39' Dylan Nel  62' Con: Josh Ioane (2/2)  40', 63' Pen: Josh Ioane (3/4)  15', 29', 70' Cards: Sam Fischli 48' to 58'	Report	Try: Teihorangi Walden  31' Pita Gus Sowakula  57' Liam Blyde  72' Con: Stephen Perofeta (3/3)  32', 58', 73' Pen: Stephen Perofeta (3/3)  4', 11', 67'	Referee: Daniel Waenga (New Zealand)

	10 October 2021	Southland	27–38	Manawatu	Rugby Park, Invercargill
	14:05 NZST	Try: Tony Lamborn  22' Solomon Alaimalo  34' Matt Whaanga  50' Con: Marty Banks (3/3)  23', 35', 51' Pen: Marty Banks (2/3)  5', 7'	Report	Try: Brett Cameron  40' Ed Fidow  46', 56' Liam Mitchell  74' Con: Brett Cameron (3/4)  40', 47', 57' Pen: Brett Cameron (4/5)  18', 29', 66', 79'	Referee: Jonathan Bredin (New Zealand)

Bye/s: Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, North Harbour, Northland, and Waikato

Week 7

	15 October 2021	Northland	13–24	Otago	Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
	19:05 NZST	Try: Sam Nock  15' Jone Macilai-Tori  37' Con: Dan Hawkins (0/2) Pen: Dan Hawkins (1/2)  51'	Report	Try: Sio Tomkinson  2', 74' James Lentjes  6' Con: Josh Ioane (3/3)  3', 7', 76' Pen: Josh Ioane (1/1)  10' Cards: Will Tucker 66' to 76'	Referee: Michael Winter (New Zealand)

	16 October 2021	Waikato	26–33	Taranaki	Tauranga Domain, Tauranga
	14:05 NZST	Try: Mosese Dawai  15' James Tucker  18' Beaudein Waaka  52' D'Angelo Leuila  68' Con: Fletcher Smith (3/4)  19', 53', 69' Pen: Fletcher Smith (0/1) Cards: Cortez-Lee Ratima  75'	Report	Try: Daniel Waite  58' Kini Naholo  63' Con: Stephen Perofeta (1/2)  64' Pen: Stephen Perofeta (7/7)  3', 5', 8', 18', 27', 74', 78'	Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

	16 October 2021	Canterbury	26–45	Hawke's Bay	Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
	16:35 NZST	Try: Rameka Poihipi  29' Manasa Mataele  55' Luke Donaldson  57' Mitchell Gibson  70' Con: Fergus Burke (1/1)  30' Jack Debreczeni (2/3)  58', 70'	Report	Try: Geoff Cridge  21' Stacey Ili  26' Lincoln McClutchie  32' Danny Toala  35' Josh Kaifa  40' Jacob Devery  43' Jonah Lowe  72' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (4/6)  23', 33', 36', 40' Tiaan Falcon (1/1)  73' Pen: Tiaan Falcon (0/1) Cards: Joe Apikotoa 59' to 69'	Referee: Stuart Curran (New Zealand)

	16 October 2021	Manawatu	16–36	Wellington	Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
	19:05 NZST	Try: Ray Niuia  43' Con: Brett Cameron (1/1)  44' Pen: Brett Cameron (3/3)  6', 30', 56'	Report	Try: Peter Umaga-Jensen  2' Du'Plessis Kirifi  10' James O'Reilly  48' Alex Fidow  51' Ruben Love  77' Con: Ruben Love (4/5)  4', 49', 53', 79' Pen: Ruben Love (1/1)  61'	Referee: Nick Hogan (New Zealand)

Bye/s: Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, North Harbour, Southland, and Tasman

Week 8

	22 October 2021	Otago	22–20	Canterbury	Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
	19:05 NZST	Try: Freedom Vahaakolo  36' Con: Josh Ioane (1/1)  38' Pen: Josh Ioane (5/7)  40', 59', 63', 70', 77'	Report	Try: Sam Dickson  20' Fergus Burke  29' Con: Fergus Burke (2/2)  21', 31' Pen: Fergus Burke (1/1)  27' Alex Harford (1/1)  73'	Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)

	23 October 2021	Taranaki	47–35	Manawatu	TET Stadium & Events Centre, Inglewood
	14:05 NZST	Try: Penalty try  31' Liam Blyde  32', 39' Stephen Perofeta  53' Vereniki Tikoisolomone  72' Josh Jacomb  76' Con: Stephen Perofeta (3/5)  40', 54', 78' Pen: Stephen Perofeta (3/5)  14', 22', 69'	Report	Try: Josiah Maraku  6' Tima Fainga'anuku  46' Ed Fidow  60' Griffin Culver  63' Drew Wild  80' Con: Stewart Cruden (5/5)  7', 47', 61', 64', 80'	Referee: Daniel Waenga (New Zealand)

	23 October 2021	RS – Hawke's Bay	41–14	Waikato	McLean Park, Napier
	19:05 NZST	Try: Jacob Devery  2' Danny Toala  22' Neria Fomai  62', 77' Tom Parsons  69' Ollie Sapsford  73' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (4/5)  23', 62', 70', 74' Caleb Makene (0/1) Pen: Lincoln McClutchie (1/1)  54' Cards: Danny Toala  80'	Report	Try: Steven Misa  16' Liam Coombes-Fabling  28' Con: D'Angelo Leuila (2/2)  17', 29' Pen: D'Angelo Leuila (0/1) Cards: James Tucker  71'	Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

Bye/s: Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, North Harbour, Northland, Southland, Tasman, and Wellington

Week 9

	29 October 2021	Canterbury	24–20	Tasman	Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
	19:05 NZST	Try: Fergus Burke  6' Luke Romano  61' Dallas McLeod  75' Con: Fergus Burke (3/3)  7', 62', 76' Pen: Fergus Burke (1/1)  66'	Report	Try: Quentin MacDonald  51' Con: Mitchell Hunt (0/1) Pen: Mitchell Hunt (5/5)  10', 32', 40', 46', 57' Cards: Leicester Fainga'anuku 8' to 18' Sam Matenga 13' to 23'	Referee: Tipene Cottrell (New Zealand)

	30 October 2021	Southland	37–33	Northland	Rugby Park, Invercargill
	14:05 NZST	Try: Josh Moorby  25' Solomon Alaimalo  30' Matthew James  48' Greg Pleasants-Tate  57' Con: Marty Banks (4/4)  26', 32', 49', 58' Pen: Marty Banks (3/3)  14', 22', 38'	Report	Try: Pisi Leilua  5' Dan Hawkins  19' Rene Ranger  65' Jone Macilai-Tori  80' Con: Dan Hawkins (2/4)  21', 65' Pen: Dan Hawkins (3/3)  3', 40', 45'	Referee: Cameron Stone (New Zealand

	30 October 2021	Bay of Plenty	33–37	Waikato	Tauranga Domain, Tauranga
	16:35 NZST	Try: Lucas Cashmore  25' Nathan Harris  35' Joe Webber  45' Leroy Carter  51' Emoni Narawa  80' Con: Lucas Cashmore (4/5)  26', 37', 47', 80' Cards: Leroy Carter 40' to 50'	Report	Try: Cortez-Lee Ratima  8', 42' Mosese Dawai  40' Rupeni Tamani  70' Con: D'Angelo Leuila (4/4)  9', 40', 43', 71' Pen: D'Angelo Leuila (3/3)  7', 33', 74' Cards: Hamilton Burr 57' to 67'	Referee: Stuart Curran (New Zealand)

	30 October 2021	Manawatu	31–40	Hawke's Bay	Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
	19:05 NZST	Try: Shamus Hurley-Langton  17' Liam Mitchell  36' Nehe Milner-Skudder  46', 80' Con: Brett Cameron (3/3)  19', 37', 47' Stewart Cruden (1/1)  80' Pen: Brett Cameron (1/1)  31'	Report	Try: Ollie Sapsford  24', 34', 50' Pouri Rakete-Stones  60' Kienan Higgins  66', 71' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (1/2)  25' Caleb Makene (4/4)  51', 61', 67', 72'	Referee: Daniel Waenga (New Zealand)

Bye/s: Auckland, Counties Manukau, North Harbour, Otago, Taranaki, and Wellington

Week 10

	3 November 2021	Bay of Plenty	22–14	Northland	Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
	19:05 NZST	Try: Peni Lasaqa  4', 24' Manaaki Selby-Rickit  59' Nathan Harris  64' Con: Lucas Cashmore (1/4)  65' Cards: Cassius Misa 48' to 58' Viliami Tosi  79'	Report	Try: Blake Hohaia  36' Justin Davies  80' Con: Rivez Reihana (1/1)  37' Dan Hawkins (1/1)  80' Cards: Blake Hohaia 22' to 32'	Referee: Tipene Cottrell (New Zealand)

	5 November 2021	Waikato	27–25	Otago	Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
	19:05 NZST	Try: James Thompson  40' Ryan Tongia  55' James Tucker  71' Con: D'Angelo Leuila (3/3)  40', 56', 72' Pen: D'Angelo Leuila (2/2)  29', 36'	Report	Try: Freedom Vahaakolo  14', 47' Matt Faddes  63' Con: Josh Ioane (2/3)  48', 65' Pen: Josh Ioane (2/3)  33', 38' Cards: Sam Fischli  28'	Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

	6 November 2021	Tasman	34–22	Wellington	Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
	14:05 NZST	Try: Quentin MacDonald  7' Jacob Norris  13' Leicester Fainga'anuku  17' Levi Aumua  25' Anton Segner  80' Con: Mitchell Hunt (3/5)  18', 26', 80' Pen: Mitchell Hunt (1/1)  39'	Report	Try: Taine Plumtree  28' Jackson Garden-Bachop  45' Tyrone Thompson  74' Con: Aidan Morgan (2/3)  30', 46' Pen: Aidan Morgan (1/1)  53'	Referee: Cameron Stone (New Zealand)

	6 November 2021	Canterbury	40–28	Bay of Plenty	Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
	16:35 NZST	Try: Chay Fihaki  3' Dallas McLeod  7', 27' Waisake Naholo  37', 51' Con: Fergus Burke (3/5)  4', 7', 52' Pen: Fergus Burke (2/4)  59', 80' Chay Fihaki (1/1)  72'	Report	Try: Leroy Carter  10' Veveni Lasaqa  20' Lucas Cashmore  48' Con: Lucas Cashmore (2/3)  11', 49' Pen: Lucas Cashmore (3/3)  15', 26', 30'	Referee: Jonathan Bredin (New Zealand)

	7 November 2021	Taranaki	24–10	Southland	TET Stadium & Events Centre, Inglewood
	14:05 NZST	Try: Kini Naholo  28' Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens  53' Vereniki Tikoisolomone  59' Con: Stephen Perofeta (3/3)  30', 55', 60' Pen: Stephen Perofeta (1/1)  40'	Report	Try: Charles Alaimalo  6' Con: Greg Dyer (1/1)  7' Pen: Greg Dyer (1/1)  18'	Referee: Stuart Curran (New Zealand)

Bye/s: Auckland, Counties Manukau, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, and North Harbour

Play-offs

	Semi-finals					Final
	1	Taranaki	25
	4	Southland	13
						1	Taranaki	32
						3	Otago	19
	2	Manawatu	16
	3	Otago	44

	Semi-finals					Final
	2	Waikato	17
	3	Canterbury	14
						2	Waikato	23
						4	Tasman	20
	1	Hawke's Bay	27
	4	Tasman	33

Semi-finals

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12 November 2021 19:05 NZST

Manawatu	16–44	Otago
Try: Brayden Iose  63' Josiah Maraku  79' Con: Drew Wild (0/2) Pen: Stewart Cruden (2/3)  26', 44'	Report	Try: Josh Hill  38' Sam Gilbert  46' Vilimoni Koroi  52' Freedom Vahaakolo  67', 74' Con: Josh Ioane (4/4)  40', 47', 53', 68' Cameron Millar (1/1)  75' Pen: Josh Ioane (3/4)  10', 18', 61'

Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North Referee: Nick Hogan (New Zealand)

13 November 2021 14:05 NZST

Taranaki	25–13	Southland
Try: Tom Florence  4' Logan Crowley  10' Con: Stephen Perofeta (0/2) Pen: Stephen Perofeta (5/6)  18', 27', 54', 70', 75'	Report	Try: Rory van Vugt  49' Con: Marty Banks (1/1)  50' Pen: Marty Banks (2/3)  15', 22' Cards: Isaac Te Tamaki  80'

TET Stadium & Events Centre, Inglewood Referee: Jonathan Bredin (New Zealand)

13 November 2021 16:35 NZST

Hawke's Bay	27–33	Tasman
Try: Jonah Lowe  12' Tom Parsons  20' Marino Mikaele-Tu'u  40' Geoff Cridge  50' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (2/4)  22', 52' Pen: Lincoln McClutchie (1/1)  65'	Report	Try: Andrew Makalio  9' Andrew Knewstubb  23' Timoci Tavatavanawai  28' Leicester Fainga'anuku  69' Con: Mitchell Hunt (2/4)  8', 25' Pen: Mitchell Hunt (3/3)  4', 17', 75'

McLean Park, Napier Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

13 November 2021 19:05 NZST

Waikato	17–14	Canterbury
Try: Rhys Marshall  28' Bailyn Sullivan  38' Con: D'Angelo Leuila (2/2)  29', 39' Pen: D'Angelo Leuila (1/2)  54'	Report	Try: Corey Kellow  45' Con: Fergus Burke (0/1) Pen: Chay Fihaki (0/1) Fergus Burke (3/3)  25', 59', 65'

Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Referee: Daniel Waenga (New Zealand)

Finals

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20 November 2021 14:05 NZST

Taranaki	32–19	Otago
Try: Jared Proffit  4' Daniel Waite  19' Mickey Woolliams  39' Kini Naholo  43' Con: Stephen Perofeta (3/4)  5', 20', 45' Pen: Stephen Perofeta (2/4)  32', 47' Jayson Potroz (0/1) Cards: Jayson Potroz 51' to 61'	Report	Try: Josh Hill  6' Vilimoni Koroi  33' Josh Ioane  54' Con: Josh Ioane (2/3)  7', 55'

TET Stadium & Events Centre, Inglewood Referee: Stuart Curran (New Zealand)

20 November 2021 19:05 NZST

Waikato	23–20	Tasman
Try: Bailyn Sullivan  33', 48' Con: D'Angelo Leuila (2/2)  33', 50' Pen: D'Angelo Leuila (2/3)  9', 40' Fletcher Smith (1/1)  72'	Report	Try: Regan Ware  27' Quinten Strange  67' Con: Mitchell Hunt (2/2)  28', 68' Pen: Mitchell Hunt (2/3)  38', 46'

FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

FB 15 Ryan Tongia RW 14 Liam Coombes-Fabling OC 13 Bailyn Sullivan IC 12 Gideon Wrampling LW 11 Mosese Dawai  51' FH 10 D'Angelo Leuila  58' SH 9 Cortez-Lee Ratima  72' N8 8 Jack Lam  80' OF 7 Mitch Jacobson BF 6 Samipeni Finau RL 5 Hamilton Burr  67' LL 4 James Tucker TP 3 George Dyer  41'  51'  61' HK 2 Rhys Marshall  61' LP 1 Ayden Johnstone (c)  53' Replacements: HK 16 Steven Misa  61' PR 17 Ollie Norris  53' PR 18 Sefo Kautai  41'  51'  61' LK 19 Rupeni Tamani  80' FL 20 Liam Messam  67' SH 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi  72' FH 22 Fletcher Smith  58' FB 23 Beaudein Waaka  51' FB 15 Andrew Knewstubb RW 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai  65' OC 13 Leicester Fainga'anuku IC 12 Alex Nankivell LW 11 Regan Ware  78' FH 10 Mitchell Hunt SH 9 Louie Chapman  78' N8 8 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta  65' OF 7 Anton Segner BF 6 Jacob Norris RL 5 Quinten Strange (c) LL 4 Antonio Shalfoon  65' TP 3 Sam Matenga  56' HK 2 Andrew Makalio  52' LP 1 Isi Tu'ungafasi  51' Replacements: HK 16 Quentin MacDonald  52' PR 17 Luca Inch  51' PR 18 Isaac Salmon  56' LK 19 Max Hicks  65' FL 20 Hugh Renton  65' SH 21 Noah Hotham  78' WG 22 Macca Springer  78' CE 23 Levi Aumua  65' Statistics Leading point scorers No. Player Team Points Average Details 1 Stephen Perofeta Taranaki 172 17.20 2 T, 30 C, 34 P, 0 D 2 Mitchell Hunt Tasman 123 12.30 1 T, 23 C, 24 P, 0 D 3 Brett Cameron Manawatu 107 15.29 2 T, 17 C, 21 P, 0 D 4 Fergus Burke Canterbury 97 9.70 3 T, 17 C, 16 P, 0 D 5 Josh Ioane Otago 82 10.25 1 T, 16 C, 15 P, 0 D 6 Marty Banks Southland 77 9.63 1 T, 12 C, 16 P, 0 D 7 Lincoln McClutchie Hawke's Bay 77 8.56 2 T, 23 C, 7 P, 0 D 8 Ruben Love Wellington 58 7.25 1 T, 19 C, 5 P, 0 D 9 Fletcher Smith Waikato 56 5.60 0 T, 22 C, 4 P, 0 D 10 D'Angelo Leuila Waikato 55 5.00 1 T, 13 C, 8 P, 0 D Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats). Leading try scorers No. Player Team Tries Average 1 Leicester Fainga'anuku Tasman 8 0.80 2 Freedom Vahaakolo Otago 7 0.78 3 Liam Coombes-Fabling Waikato 7 0.64 4 Kini Naholo Taranaki 6 0.67 5 Peter Umaga-Jensen Wellington 5 0.63 6 Mosese Dawai Waikato 5 0.50 7 Vereniki Tikoisolomone Taranaki 5 0.50 8 Taine Plumtree Wellington 4 0.67 9 Tyrone Thompson Wellington 4 0.67 10 Jone Macilai-Tori Northland 4 0.57 Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats). Points by week Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Average Auckland 35 24 11 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 46 40 23.00 20.00 Bay of Plenty 14 27 31 11 33 36 28 55 33 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 37 50 54 222 252 27.75 31.50 Canterbury 24 35 25 22 20 19 19 16 0 0 30 35 26 45 20 22 24 20 40 28 228 242 25.33 26.89 Counties Manukau 21 39 6 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 53 13.50 26.50 Hawke's Bay 19 33 34 10 36 33 31 28 0 0 34 22 45 26 41 14 40 31 0 0 280 197 35.00 24.63 Manawatu 39 21 22 25 0 0 31 19 27 14 38 27 16 36 35 47 31 40 0 0 239 229 29.88 28.63 North Harbour 15 28 14 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 34 14.50 17.00 Northland 7 54 14 48 29 48 19 31 38 28 0 0 13 24 0 0 33 37 14 22 167 292 20.88 36.50 Otago 26 19 10 34 0 0 0 0 14 27 23 30 24 13 22 20 0 0 25 27 144 170 20.57 24.29 Southland 19 26 11 31 0 0 16 19 14 51 27 38 0 0 0 0 37 33 10 24 134 222 19.14 31.71 Taranaki 33 19 48 14 32 26 55 28 0 0 30 23 33 26 47 35 0 0 24 10 302 181 37.75 22.63 Tasman 27 14 16 11 48 29 22 39 51 14 22 34 0 0 0 0 20 24 34 22 240 187 30.00 23.38 Waikato 28 15 43 37 19 20 39 22 28 38 0 0 26 33 14 41 37 33 27 25 261 264 29.00 29.33 Wellington 54 7 37 43 26 32 28 31 32 33 35 30 36 16 0 0 0 0 22 34 270 226 33.75 28.25 Source: Bunnings NPC Fixtures and Results 2021 Tries by week Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Average Auckland 4 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 2.50 2.00 Bay of Plenty 2 3 4 1 5 3 4 7 5 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 7 7 32 31 4.00 3.88 Canterbury 3 4 4 3 3 3 1 1 0 0 4 4 4 7 2 1 3 1 5 3 29 27 3.22 3.00 Counties Manukau 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 1.00 2.00 Hawke's Bay 3 3 5 1 3 5 4 3 0 0 5 1 7 4 6 2 6 4 0 0 39 23 4.88 2.88 Manawatu 3 2 3 4 0 0 3 3 3 2 4 3 1 5 5 6 4 6 0 0 26 31 3.25 3.88 North Harbour 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 1.50 2.00 Northland 1 8 2 6 5 8 3 3 5 4 0 0 2 3 0 0 4 4 2 4 24 40 3.00 5.00 Otago 2 1 1 5 0 0 0 0 2 3 2 3 3 2 1 2 0 0 3 3 14 19 2.00 2.71 Southland 1 2 1 4 0 0 1 1 2 7 3 4 0 0 0 0 4 4 1 3 13 25 1.86 3.57 Taranaki 3 3 6 2 3 3 7 4 0 0 3 2 2 4 6 5 0 0 3 1 33 24 4.13 3.00 Tasman 3 2 1 1 8 5 3 5 7 2 1 5 0 0 0 0 1 3 5 3 29 26 3.63 3.25 Waikato 4 2 6 5 3 3 5 3 4 5 0 0 4 2 2 6 4 5 3 3 35 34 3.89 3.78 Wellington 8 1 5 6 3 3 3 4 6 5 4 4 5 1 0 0 0 0 3 5 37 29 4.63 3.63 For Against Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats). Sanctions Player Team Red Yellow Sent off match(es): Sam Fischli Otago 1 1 vs. Taranaki and Waikato Dan Hawkins Northland 1 0 vs. Wellington Isi Manu Northland 1 0 vs. Taranaki Hamilton Burr Waikato 0 2 vs. Tasman and Bay of Plenty Pari Pari Parkinson Tasman 0 1 vs. Auckland Julian Savea Wellington 0 1 vs. Waikato Charles Alaimalo Southland 0 1 vs. Bay of Plenty Teihorangi Walden Taranaki 0 1 vs. Wellington Steven Misa Waikato 0 1 vs. Tasman Noah Cooper Northland 0 1 vs. Manawatu Chris Apoua Southland 0 1 vs. Canterbury D'Angelo Leuila Waikato 0 1 vs. Northland Flyn Yates Manawatu 0 1 vs. Otago Alex Fidow Wellington 0 1 vs. Canterbury Luke Romano Canterbury 0 1 vs. Wellington Will Tucker Otago 0 1 vs. Northland Cortez-Lee Ratima Waikato 0 1 vs. Taranaki Joe Apikotoa Hawke's Bay 0 1 vs. Canterbury James Tucker Waikato 0 1 vs. Hawke's Bay Danny Toala Hawke's Bay 0 1 vs. Waikato Leicester Fainga'anuku Tasman 0 1 vs. Canterbury Sam Matenga Tasman 0 1 vs. Canterbury Leroy Carter Bay of Plenty 0 1 vs. Waikato Cassius Misa Bay of Plenty 0 1 vs. Northland Viliami Tosi Bay of Plenty 0 1 vs. Northland Blake Hohaia Northland 0 1 vs. Bay of Plenty Isaac Te Tamaki Southland 0 1 vs. Taranaki Jayson Potroz Taranaki 0 1 vs. Otago Ranfurly Shield See also: Ranfurly Shield 2020–29 Pre-season challenges For the 2021 pre-season, Hawke's Bay accepted Ranfurly Shield challenges from North Otago and Ngāti Porou East Coast. In their first defence on June 30, Hawke's Bay defeated North Otago 85–0 in Napier. The side scored thirteen tries to none. It began with a try to Kienan Higgins on debut from a turnover after four minutes. North Otago then conceded a penalty try and lost lock Manulua Taiti to a yellow card. Hawke’s Bay added a further two tries from Jason Long to lead twenty-eight points to nil after the first quarter. Another two tries in the last eight minutes gave Hawke's Bay a forty-two point lead at halftime. Hawke's Bay also gave a debut to All Black family member Sir Brian Lochore's grandson, Frank Lochore. In Hawke's Bay's second defence of the year they scored fifteen tries to win 93–5 against Ngāti Porou East Coast. Hawke's Bay number 8 Gareth Evans opened the scoring off due to lineout maul five minutes into the first half. Hawke's Bay had their second try through Josh Kaifa after some good runs from Anzelo Tuitavuki and Dennon Robinson-Bartlett on either wing, then fullback Danny Toala crossed over to make it seventeen points to nil inside fifteen minutes. Kaifa, Toala, Tuitavuki, Lincoln McClutchie and replacement prop Pouri Rakete-Stones all crossed for doubles, with McClutchie kicking nine conversions in a personal tally of twenty-eight points. Ngāti Porou East Coast were coached by former New Zealand international Hosea Gear and scored their only try to hooker Jorian Tangaere in the thirtieth minute. 30 June 2021 19:05 NZST Hawke's Bay 85–0 North Otago Try: Kienan Higgins  4' Penalty try  10' Jason Long  18', 22' Lolagi Visinia  32', 52' Tom Parsons  40' Jacob Devery  43' Anzelo Tuitavuki  46' Josh Kaifa  58', 77' Danny Toala  68' Namatahi Waa  72' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (9/11)  5', 19', 23', 33', 40', 44', 47', 73', 77' Danny Toala (0/1) Preview Report McLean Park, Napier Referee: Michael Winter (New Zealand) 24 July 2021 15:00 NZST Hawke's Bay 93–5 Ngāti Porou East Coast Try: Gareth Evans  5' Josh Kaifa  10', 41' Danny Toala  14', 51' Anzelo Tuitavuki  21', 46' Kianu Kereru-Symes  26' Dennon Robinson-Bartlett  34' Namatahi Waa  39' Lincoln McClutchie  57', 72' Pouri Rakete-Stones  62', 74' Elijah Martin  64' Con: Lincoln McClutchie (9/15)  6', 22', 40', 47', 58', 63', 65', 73', 75' Preview Report Try: Jorian Tangaere  30' Con: Te Rangi Fraser (0/1) McLean Park, Napier Referee: Stuart Curran (New Zealand) References External links Official website