Reigning champions Canterbury have wasted little time putting their Farah Palmer Cup opponents on notice.
The red and blacks hammered Counties Manukau 59-12 in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon, outscoring the visitors nine tries to two at Rugby Park.
Canterbury was simply too slick for the visitors, as Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge spearheaded an up-tempo game plan which produced an abundance of running rugby.
Cocksedge, fresh from taking the club season off, and centre Grace Brooker both scored braces in the bonus point win, which also kept the JJ Stewart Trophy the women’s equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield in the Garden City.
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Brookers two tries scored either side of the halftime break were two of the home sides best on a day Canterbury never trailed.
She beat four defenders on the way to the line for her first, before wriggling out of another after collecting a chip kick to bag her second.
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Canterbury wing Isabella Waterman scored a peach of a try in her teams big win against Counties Manukau in Christchurch on Saturday.
However, wing Isabella Watermans try after the halftime hooter when she got on the end of a smooth TeRauoriwa Gapper cross-field kick and carried a defender over the line was probably the pick of the lot.
It gave Canterbury a 26-7 halftime lead, one they quickly extended via Brooker when play resumed.
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Canterbury centre Grace Brooker on her way to scoring her first try against Counties in Christchurch on Saturday.
Counties simply could not keep up with the relentless pace Canterbury played with, as was evident when Cocksedge dived on a loose ball shortly after taking a quick tap some 60 metres back as they opened up a 40-7 lead after 52 minutes.
The fact Canterbury could inject the likes of speedster Grace Steinmetz into the match in the second half didnt help the visitors cause, as they spent the majority of the final 40 minutes chasing the hosts around the paddock.
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Canterbury No 8 Lucy Anderson dives over for her teams opening try in Christchurch on Saturday.
As good as Brooker and Cocksedge were, No 8 Lucy Anderson, a converted midfielder, was arguably just as good.
After all, she set the tone with her physicality both with and without the ball, led Canterburys stout defensive effort, and scored the games opening try in the 9th minute.
Auckland record a statement win against Bay of Plenty in Farah Palmer Cup opener.
Their big win followed Aucklands comprehensive 44-12 win against Bay of Plenty in Saturdays other match.
Auckland eased clear of Bay of Plenty after scrapping their way to a 15-5 lead at the halftime break.
The Storm turned up the heat by playing smart in the wet conditions, pinning Bay of Plenty inside their own half and putting them under all sorts of pressure.
Bay of Plenty could only hang tough for so long, before Auckland wing Princess Elliot finished off a lengthy passage inside the 22 as cracks in the visitors defence started to show.
Auckland Storm’s Magali Harvey on the charge against Bay of Plenty at Eden Park on Saturday.
Hooker Cristo Tofa flopped over the line on the back of a rampaging rolling maul shortly afterwards, before centre Sylvia Brunt scored arguably the pick of Aucklands bunch.
The Mt Albert Grammar pupil flashed her speed and footwork to finish off a move highlighted by a series of superb offloads.
Auckland Storm’s Shannon Leota carts the ball into traffic against Bay of Plenty at Eden Park on Saturday.
Former Canterbury wing Sam Curtis, playing her first game since shifting to Auckland in the off-season, torched the Bay of Plenty with her first touch to finish the job.
Wellington host Otago in Porirua on Sunday in the final match of the round. The six championship teams begin their campaigns next weekend.
Canterbury 59 (Lucy Anderson, Kendra Cocksedge 2, Grace Brooker 2, Isabella Waterman, Alana Bremner, Olivia McGoverne, Tayla Simpson tries; Cocksedge 5 con, Waterman 2 con) Counties Manukau 12 (Emily Kitson, Amiria Te Iringa tries; Hazel Tubic con). HT: 26-7
Auckland 44 (Maia Roos, Shannon Leota, Princess Elliot, Cristo Tofa, Sylvia Brunt, Sam Curtis tries; Rauhei Demant 2 pen, 4 con) Bay of Plenty 12 (Grace Parata-Stewart, Kiki Tahere tries; Ashleigh Timoko con). HT: 15-5