Taranaki inflicted yet more doubt and uncertainty on Auckland with a ITM Cup win at New Plymouth today.

Live updates from all of today's rugby and league action with two ITM Cup clashes and three NRL encounters.

Canterbury ended a difficult week on a positive note by beating ITM Cup rugby rivals Manawatu 42-15 in Christchurch today.

Waikato notched their second win of the ITM Cup when they beat Tasman 33-6 in Hamilton tonight.

Southland successfully defended the Ranfurly Shield with a gutsy win in the wet to beat Counties Manukau 22-14 at Rugby Park in Invercargill.

nzherald.co.nz brings you live coverage of tonight's matches from the ITM Cup and NRL.

Hawke's Bay ended Otago's unbeaten start to the ITM Cup and emerge with a 27-13 victory at McLean Park.

nzherald brings you live scoring of today's ITM Cup and NRL matches.

Bay of Plenty outflanked North Harbour to clinch a 38-17 victory over North Harbour in Mt Maunganui.

Put Auckland's early woes down to a sloppy mental side of the game rather than anything to do with their playing ability, according to coach Mark Anscombe.

The ground is being prepared for a revolution in Auckland club rugby, with talks under way for a semi-professional competition featuring fewer clubs.

Auckland paid the ultimate price for a multitude of handling errors as Canterbury fought out a high-scoring 40-33 win.

Bay of Plenty lead Counties Manukau in their ITM Cup clash at Bayer Growers stadium in Pukekohe.

Winger Jason Woodward outshone his more illustrious teammates to grab three tries in Wellington's 23-5 over Taranaki.

Northland opened their national provincial rugby championship campaign with a workmanlike 19-9 win over Tasman.

Auckland's young pretender gets to show his prowess against All Black squad incumbent.

Waikato began their ITM Cup campaign with a tough 19-9 win over Southland at Rugby Park in Invercargill.

Friday night footy at nzherald.co.nz brings you live scoring of tonight's ITM Cup and NRL matches.