Manawatu Rugby Union - Match Highlights Over The Years

Match Highlights Over The Years

• Consistently dishing out 'rugby lessons' to the likes of Otago, Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury, amongst other unions, between the years of 1976 to 1983.

• Beating Auckland 12–10 at Eden Park in 1976 to win the coveted Log 'o Wood for the first time, followed by a homecoming parade through the city streets. Doug Rollerson's dropped goal secured the famous victory for Manawatu.

• With prop Kent Lambert sent-off, Manawatu were reduced to 14-men in their defence of the Ranfurly Shield against the favoured Counties side in 1977. However, the green and whites rallied to record a famous victory, 15–10. A last minute try prevented the confident Counties side from taking the Shield back to Pukekohe for the first time.

• A 20–10 win over Australia in 1978.

• One of Manawatu's most memorable matches was the 1981 encounter against South Africa. Manawatu led 9–4 at halftime and with minutes to go the score was 19–19. The clash between the national champions and the 'test' strength Springboks was headed for a climax worthy of such an event. In the final analysis, Naas Botha was the difference between the two sides. In the final minutes he scored a long range penalty, a dropped goal and a sideline conversion to lead the 'Boks home to a flattering 31–19 victory. The Manawatu v Springbok game was the first to witness the infamous police riot squads patrolling the streets as a pre-emptive measure, as opposed to them just turning up once trouble started. Either way, both the police and the public/protesters were generally well behaved that day, despite the barbed wire, the bitterness, and the repressive police presence.

• Lee Stensness starred in a 58–24 win over Ireland in 1992.

• In 2011, a resurgent Manawatu Turbos side defeated the Wellington Lions 31–25 in Wellington. It was Manawatu's first competition win over Wellington in the capital, after 124 years of trying.

• Also in 2011, a rampant Manawatu Turbos side put 54 points on a stunned Waikato Mooloos team at FMG Stadium. The Turbos led 35–17 at halftime, eventually winning 54–20. This kept the Turbos unbeaten at home for the season. Unfortunately the form could not translate to a victory in the Championship final.

• In 2012, Manawatu scored its first victory away to North Harbour. The win at home against Hawke's Bay made Manawatu one of the few Championship teams to beat a Premiership team.