Counties Manukau beat Northland 22-19 in the NPC on Saturday, defying expectations in a match where the home side had looked strong all season. The hosts sat second in the table with 32 points from eight games, while the visitors languished in 13th place with just 12 points. The result closes the gap between them on the ladder and adds a fresh dimension to the standings.
Northland came into the fixture with momentum, having won four of their last five matches. Their most recent outing saw them dismantle Wellington 52-28, while a 34-17 victory over Waikato followed shortly after. Those results had positioned them comfortably in the upper echelons of the competition.
Counties Manukau's path to victory was less straightforward. They had lost their previous two games, including a 50-point defeat to Otago, before edging Southland 47-24 and beating Wellington 46-35. The form was mixed at best, and few would have backed them to win away at second place.
The match itself produced a tight contest, with the final score reflecting a game decided by narrow margins. Northland's recent dominance in high-scoring encounters did not translate into an easy afternoon, and Counties Manukau held firm when it mattered. The visitors took all three points despite sitting eight places below their opponents.
Northland's loss ends a four-game winning streak and leaves them at 32 points, still second but with the pressure now on to respond. Counties Manukau move closer to safety with 12 points from eight matches, proving that even the bottom half of the table can produce upsets. The NPC continues to deliver surprises, and this result adds another chapter to that pattern.
