Dan Carter makes his injury return for Canterbury © Getty Images

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Southland 28-26 Canterbury

Southland have come from behind in the final minutes to convert a penalty and secure a tight two-point 28-26 victory over Canterbury in Christchurch. Making his return from a leg injury, Dan Carter was brought immediately into play after Canterbury wing Nathaniel Apa scored a brilliant solo try which Carter converted within minutes into the match.

But Southland hit back only minutes later with their own converted try through an impressive set piece move that saw Bryan Milne come off the back of the scrum for a great 30-metre break. Both sides continued to trade points until Canterbury took a six-point lead with two Carter penalties heading into the half-time break.

Despite a strong first-half, Carter was taken off for Richie Mo'unga to move into the fly-half position. Finding his radar early Mo'unga was quick to add three points to take a nine-point lead, before Southland hit back with a John Hardie try and penalty to close the gap to just one-point. However, only minutes later a controversial penalty try gave Canterbury a strong lead heading into the final 15-minutes.

With only ten-minutes left of play Willis Halaholo found a hole to crash over under the posts to close the gap again to only one-point. In a tense final minutes Southland hit Canterbury's defence hard and were rewarded with a penalty in front to gain the lead for the first time in the match. But Canterbury continued to fight hard and hammered a Southland scrum to be rewarded a penalty after the bell, however Mo'unga couldn't slot the penalty to regain the win.

Tasman 32-24 Otago

A composed Tasman have confirmed their place in the Premiership division semi-finals with a 32-24 win over Otago in an NPC cross-over match at Nelson.

Trailing 24-14 with 25 minutes remaining, Tasman finally got their continuity game to click in heavy conditions to lodge a bonus-point win. It restores them as provisional Premiership leaders, ahead of Taranaki on points differential with two games to play. Canterbury, who have a game in hand, sit three points behind them. All three teams are guaranteed to be involved in the semi-finals next month.

Tasman recorded just their second win in eight games against Otago, crossing through midfield backs Kieron Fonotia and David Havili to establish a flattering 14-10 lead at half-time. Otago, who had dominated the first spell, rocketed to the front through tries to flanker Hugh Blake and reserve hooker Sam Anderson-Heather soon after the break.

However, Tasman kept their nerve in heavy conditions, taking command through tries to influential halfback Jimmy Cowan and reserve prop Ross Geldenhuys while fly-half Marty Banks slotted two penalties as part of his 12-point haul.

Otago were denied a bonus point by Banks' 80th-minute penalty, leaving them fifth in the second-tier Championship division with five losses from eight matches. They have games remaining against Bay of Plenty and Manawatu to force a place in the semi-finals. Tasman visit Canterbury in Christchurch on Saturday for a game which may well determine home advantage in the play-offs.

North Harbour 28-25 Hawke's Bay

North Harbour have just come away with a tight three-point win after Hawke's Bay came back hard in the second half to chase down a 17-point gap. Harbour started quickly with two tries within 12-minutes and took a 15-nil lead within 15-minutes, while Hawke's Bay posted their first points through an Ihaia West penalty. In a tight arm-wrestle for the rest of the half, Hawke's Bay came close to crashing over the line but couldn't make the final metres while Harbour managed to add an extra three-points to push 15-point lead into the break.

Hawke's Bay came out firing in the second half, but it was Harbour who gained the first points of the half with Robbie Robinson finding a gap and diving over to push a strong 25-3 lead. But a fight back from Hawke's Bay saw the gap closing with Robbie Fruen picking up a loose ball to race over the line and a penalty to West closed the gap even further to 25-18. But Harbour made sure to add another three before Hawke's Bay prop Brendon Edmonds closed the gap again. However, Harbour made sure to hold strong in the final minutes to keep Hawke's Bay out and end the match with a tight lead.

Tim Nanai-Williams celebrates the win with Sherwin Stowers © Getty Images

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Counties Manukau 55-7 Wellington

The return of All Black Victor Vito to the Wellington Lions wasn't enough to keep the side from falling to their seventh straight loss and copping a 55-7 hammering from Counties Manukau in Pukekohe. The Steelers completely outplayed the Lions as they took quick lead with a converted try within the opening minutes and continued to build on their lead with a 38-0 lead heading into the second half with tries to Augustine Pulu, Suliasi Taufalele, two to Frank Halai and Ahsee Tuala.

Only eight minutes into the second half the Steelers added to their lead with a Tim Nanai-Williams penalty before Curtis Ambrose crashed over for the Lions first points to head into the final 25-minutes 41-7. But the Steelers were just too good as Nanai-Williams adding another two tries with the final try coming just before the bell and Sherwin Stowers adding the extras.

Following their recent loss the Lions are now facing relegation to the Championship table next year.

Waikato 20-22 Manawatu

With Aaron Cruden watching on, it was Manawatu's lesser-known playmakers who earned the plaudits in a gripping 22-20 ITM Cup win over Waikato in Hamilton. An error-riddled cross-over fixture was won by Manawatu's superior goalkicking as they extended their lead at the top of the second-tier Championship.

First five-eighth Jade Te Rure and his replacement Otere Black landed all six shots between them while Waikato No.10 Damian McKenzie slotted just five from 10. The bonus point lifted Waikato to within four points of fourth-placed Auckland in the Premiership division with two games remaining, leaving them with an outside chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Manawatu sit five points clear of nearest Championship rivals Hawke's Bay but have played two more games.The punt from Manawatu coach Jason O'Halloran not to consider chastened All Blacks playmaker Cruden paid off as the two youngsters kicked accurately and controlled play well.

Cruden was reduced to a role as water boy, adding ignominy to a week in which he was dropped by the All Blacks after missing their flight to Argentina.

Both teams scored one try each but constant errors and blustery conditions meant it was hard to mount consistent attacks. Wing Joe Webber's try in the 17th minute following a sharp blindside attack was matched by Manawatu centre Jason Emery's effort early in the second spell which put the visitors in front for the first time.

The lead changed hands four more times, with Black's 76th minute penalty proving decisive. Both teams lost a player to the sin bin during the closing 10min, with Manawatu lock Mike FitzGerald and Waikato prop Josh Hohneck both shown yellow cards.

Taranaki 35-22 Auckland

Taranaki have booked a spot in the NPC rugby semi-finals, holding off a fightback by fellow play-off contenders Auckland to secure a 35-22 victory in New Plymouth.

The result wasn't confirmed until after the final hooter, midfield back Charlie Ngatai scoring the bonus-point fourth try from an intercept as Auckland threw the ball around in search of their own winning score.

It meant Taranaki climbed to the top of the Premiership table, although defending champions Canterbury can reclaim the lead when they host Championship side Southland on Sunday. Auckland remain fourth in the Premiership, five points ahead of Waikato.

The clash at Yarrow Stadium was an entertaining one, with plenty of attack and counter-attack, as well as turnovers and errors. Auckland were second-best in the opening spell, but lifted a gear when they came out after the interval.

Winger George Moala's try in the 54th minute and first five-eighth Gareth Anscombe's conversion and then a penalty pulled them to within three points. Taranaki struck back with Marty McKenzie landing a penalty and a drop goal to be nine points up with just a couple of minutes left. However, another penalty from Anscombe, who finished with a personal haul of 17 points, inspired Auckland to make one last attack, which ended in Ngatai's intercept.

Taranaki dominated the opening half, taking advantage of plenty of possession and territory to open out a 22-9 advantage at the break. Hooker Rhys Marshall got their first try from a line-out move, before flanker Berny Hall crossed after some great lead-up work from outside backs James Marshall, Waisake Naholo and Seta Tamanivalu. The home side further emphasised their dominance when Tamanivalu powered his way over to finish off a concerted attack.

Bay of Plenty 27-30 Northland

Bay of Plenty are looking likely candidates for a championship wooden spoon after a 30-27 loss to Northland on Thursday night, their seventh loss in eight games.

The hosts were made to pay for a late infringement, with Northland substitute Latiume Fosita slotting over a penalty after Bay of Plenty's Tim Bond failed to roll away at a ruck.

Northland made the perfect start when scrum-half Sonatane Takulua touched down early and the lead became 10-0 in as many minutes after fly-half Daniel Hawkins kicked a penalty.

Bay of Plenty hit back when Siaosi Iongi dived over the line and the home side hit the front when Joe Royal finished off a driving maul.

Northland regained the lead through Takulua when he dummied on the 22m and went through and the visitors went into the break 17-14 up.

Bond put Bay ahead after a strong maul however Northland hit straight back with a great team try finished by inside-centre Warren Dunn and Fosita broke the deadlock with just two minutes remaining.

North Harbour 29-24 Canterbury

North Harbour lock Gerard Tuioti-Mariner gains some ground against Canterbury © Getty Images

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Lowly North Harbour have produced a massive upset, overcoming a nightmare start to humble NPC rugby leaders Canterbury 29-24 at Albany.

Canterbury, chasing a seventh successive title, had gone into the cross-over match as the only unbeaten side in either division of the competition. But having raced out to an early 14-0 lead, they could not hold out a spirited Harbour fightback. Their bonus-point loss leaves them with a two-point lead at the top of the Premiership, while Harbour have lifted themselves off the bottom of the Championship.

The Canterbury line-up contained a raft of changes, among them the inclusion of inside-centre Ryan Crotty for his first outing since his cheekbone injury in the All Blacks' win over the Wallabies at Eden Park in August.

But it looked like business as usual as they took just 16 seconds to cross the North Harbour line. Crotty, who will join the All Blacks ahead of their Test in South Africa next week, charged down fullback Robbie Robinson's clearing kick and winger Nathaniel Apa was on hand to dot down. When hooker Codie Taylor scrambled his way over six minutes later, Canterbury looked well in control.

Instead, Harbour struck back, rattling the visitors as they attacked the break-down and showed a willingness to move the ball wide. No.8 Leigh Thompson scored off a ruck and then winger Tevita Li produced plenty of gas to finish off a well-constructed move. When hooker James Parsons dotted down late in the opening spell, the home side had hit the front. Harbour got their bonus point try in the 53th minute, courtesy of midfield back Niko Ratumaitavuki.

Down 29-14, Canterbury started to get some structure back into their game and scrum-half Willi Heinz scored after a long series of phases. Fly-half Richie Mo'unga added the conversion and then a penalty with three minutes to go, but Harbour held on for a remarkable victory.