All Blacks centre George Moala scored a try for Auckland © Getty Images

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Matches: Hawke's Bay 39 - 10 Northland | Counties Manukau 36 - 35 Manawatu | Otago 24 - 38 Canterbury | Taranaki 14 - 19 Wellington | Bay of Plenty 20 - 11 North Harbour | Waikato 20 - 35 Tasman | Southland 23 - 23 Auckland

Southland 23-23 Auckland

Auckland and Southland both blew late chances to win the opening match of the ITM Cup season.

Auckland fly-half Mitchell Hunt missed a 40-metre penalty attempt in the final act of the game, after his Stags counterpart, Ash Moeke, had struck a post minutes earlier.

Auckland, fielding 11 new players, dominated the early stages to lead 16-3 midway through the first half before the home side fought back. Half-back Jono Hickey slotted three early penalties for the new-look visitors, who also scored the first try after flanker Joe Edwards had made a long-range bust and set up wing Ben Lam.

Southland responded either side of half-time, through a 60-metre intercept try to centre Kieran Moffat and a bustling effort from No. 8 Elliot Dixon to hit the front, before Auckland midfielder George Moala charged over to level the scores.

Waikato 20-35 Tasman

Tasman have opened their ITM Cup campaign with a bonus-point 35-20 win over Waikato in Hamilton.

Last year's Premiership runners-up scored four tries to one on Friday night, but had to survive the second-half sin-binning of first five-eighth Marty Banks before finally pulling away. Banks was yellow-carded on the hour mark for a deliberate knock-on and Waikato immediately made their one-man advantage count as 18-year-old debutant fullback Shaun Stevenson crossed to cut the margin to 25-20.

But Banks came back to land a penalty, before veteran half-back Jimmy Cowan touched down with two minutes to go to seal victory.

Otago 24-38 Canterbury

Canterbury warned they will be a force once again in the ITM Cup with an ominous 38-24 dismantling of Otago in Dunedin.

The 11-time champions took their foot off the pedal late in a cross-over match which they largely dominated, scoring four tries to three. Fullback Tom Taylor landed seven from eight shots at goal, including four penalties in the opening 25 minutes which laid the foundation for victory.

They hummed into life late in the first spell with tries to first five-eighth Richie Mo'unga and flanker Reed Prinsep to lead 26-10. It was 38-17 with 20 minutes to play after Crusaders forwards Ben Funnell and Matt Todd scored for the visitors, both from lineout moves while Otago centre Jayden Spence was in the sin bin for time wasting.

Taranaki 14-19 Wellington

Wellington showed they won't be the easy-beats of last year with an opening-round 19-14 upset of defending champions Taranaki in New Plymouth.

Traditional powerhouses Wellington won just once in 2014 to be relegated to the second-tier Championship while Taranaki were powering to their maiden Premiership crown. The tables were turned in a three tries-to-one performance from the visitors, who were more accurate and aggressive in slippery conditions.

Two of the tries followed shortly after Taranaki were reduced to 14 men following a no-arms tackle from wing Kurt Baker. Captain Brad Shields was outstanding and powered over for the first before a sizzling break from wing Joe Hill set up flanker Vaea Fifita, giving Wellington a 12-0 halftime lead.

The hosts charged back with 11 points in 16 minutes after the break, through two penalties from first five-eighth Marty McKenzie and an unconverted try to wing Codey Rei, set up by quick hands.

The sin-binning of Shields for a shoulder charge midway through the second spell handed Taranaki even more momentum but Wellington held firm and sealed the result through a remarkable solo try from Hill from 50m out which left several defenders grasping.

Counties Manukau 36-35 Manawatu

Counties Manukau winger Toni Pulu grabbed a hat-trick as the Steelers claimed a 34-14 lead in Pukekohe on Sunday, but the hosts were left hanging on after Manawatu roared home with three tries in the final seven minutes through lock Valentino Mapapalangi, flanker Antonio Kirikiri and halfback Toby Morland.

Pulu got the Steelers off to the flying start, touching down twice in the opening five minutes, but Manawatu, newly promoted to the ITM Cup Premiership division, hit back through Kirikiri from a lineout drive.

Steelers flanker Sam Henwood then scored after the Turbos has conceded a turnover deep in their own territory before the visitors' captain, Callum Gibbins, droved over from another lineout to reduce the deficit to 19-14 at half-time.

Counties fullback Jared Page got the hosts' bonus-point try after a sustained period of attack, and the Steelers looked to be cruising when Pulu completed his hat-trick.

Hawke's Bay 39-10 Northland

Hawke's Bay have made their eighth successful defence of their present Ranfurly Shield tenure, their forward strength helping them to a comfortable victory at McLean Park in Napier to round out the opening weekend of the ITM Cup.

The Magpies scored six tries to one in the all-Championship championship clash, with flanker Tony Lamborn and winger Ryan Tongia both getting a double. The home side had a dominant scrum and three of their touchdowns came from rolling mauls, while a big run from lock Mark Abbott allowed Tongia to complete his brace.

Northland had the final say when replacement midfield back Troy Gilbert forcing his way over.