Preview: Manawatu v Wellington

23/08/2012 VENUE & TIME: FMG Stadium, Palmerston North, Friday August 24 @ 1805 HEAD TO HEAD: Played 80; Manawatu 17, Wellington 57, drawn 6. LAST TIME: August 13, 2010 (Wellington) - Wellington 25-31 Manawatu. WALKING WOUNDED: Manawatu have three long-term injury worries - Grant Polson, Doug Tietjens and Isaac Thompson - while the two

Auckland take honours in opener

Thursday Aug 23, 2012 Auckland 36 Hawke's Bay 29 The ITM Cup is renowned for entertaining rugby and it will be hoped that tonight's season opener between Auckland and Hawke's Bay sets the tone for this year's edition. The final scoreline read Auckland 36 Hawke's Bay 29 but it didn't really tell the tale