Counties Manukau win Ranfurly Shield from Northland
The 2026 NPC season keeps on giving with Counties Manukau causing a upset by claiming the Ranfurly Shield from Northland with a 22-19 win in Whangārei.
Northland were top of the points table while Counties had just two wins prior to their victory and were second-to-last.
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First five AJ Alatimu a former James Cook High School student who has played over 30 games for the province kicked a penalty with just under two minutes to give Counties Manukau the lead for the first time in the match and they then held out a determined Taniwha side.
For the majority of the game it looked the Ranfurly Shield would be safe in the Far North for the summer when Northland's scrum dominance saw them take a 19-12 inside the final 20 minutes.
But Counties, who have limited players with Super Rugby experience hit back, with fullback Adam Morrison scoring in the corner and 33-year-old AJ Alatimu levelling up the scores with a brilliant conversion.
They then secured a vital penalty decision with the clock almost up and Alatimu coolly kicked the ball between the posts it despite the boos from the home crowd.
It is the second time Counties Manukau have won the shield, beating Hawke's Bay in 2013 and holding it for six defences.
Counties Manukau now try and defend the Shield against Hawke's Bay next Saturday 3 October at Pukekohe.
Northland had won the shield from Canterbury in August, and defended it successfully against Tasman and Waikato before going down today.
