The Bunnings NPC will officially breeze past the halfway point in its regular season during Round 5, and the setting for late-season drama is starting to take shape.

No team has officially qualified for the postseason places yet, but week-by-week the real contenders for the 2022 competition are establishing themselves. Before winner-take-all matches begin, however, there are still plenty of scores to settle across the league.

Amid all of the growing tension, plenty of new stars are emerging through the cracks, as well—making it as good of a time as any to follow along for the rest of the season.

Here’s a peek at a selection of three games to check out from Roung 5 as the competition continues to be streamed live all season on FloRugby.

Auckland Vs. Northland

Auckland had a point to prove against an in-form Otago in Round 4 following its narrow defeat to Bay of Plenty the previous matchweek. Consider the point proven. 

Auckland solidified its hold atop the Evens Conference (albeit with a game in-hand over Canterbury, who is slated to have a midweek match for Wednesday) with a cut-and-dry 35-17 victory over the Dunedin-based side at Eden Park. Four different players crossed over for tries as the Blues affiliate now sits with the current highest point total (20 points) in all of the Bunnings NPC. 

Though Northland—a somewhat-surprisingly competitive outfit considering that it went only 1-7 overall in 2021—may have something to say about Auckland’s current spot at the pinnacle of its division. The Taniwha won the Heta Te Tai Trophy in a 32-19 triumph over winless Southland in Round 4, and with three wins out of four, and a Bunnings NPC-low 52 points allowed in that time, coach George Konia’s side has proven itself to be a strong and sturdy unit that defends well. 

Maybe Northland can take a page out of Bay of Plenty’s book and try to frustrate Auckland as it develops its attack, like the Steamers did Aug. 21 when they pulled off a rare win at Eden Park. But with playmakers like AJ Lam and Salesi Rayasi (three tries each) in the mix, that’s said than done.

Hawke’s Bay Vs. Canterbury

Depending on when you read this and what happens when Round 4 officially finishes Wednesday, Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury could end up being one of the best-on-best regular-season showdowns. 

Hawke’s Bay is already confirmed to be on top of the Odds Conference (with a game in-hand over second-placed Waikato) following just one defeat in five matches played and a two-game winning run following wins against Manuwatu in Round 3 and North Harbour in Round 4. 

The Magpies play matches a bit on the edge, having a fairly-low point differential (+24), but with a squad full of many times-capped internationals—including several former All Blacks—coach Josh Syms’ squad has momentum. 

The Punivai connection ?
#BunningsNPC | @skysportnz | @crfu pic.twitter.com/ilX4bu4WiN

— Bunnings NPC (@BunningsNPC) August 31, 2022

But as does Canterbury, the Crusaders affiliate that has largely stomped through nearly every opponent it's faced (like Tasman, who Canterbury crushed by a 52-20 scoreline this past weekend) and has scored the most tries (24) and points (167) across the entirety of the Bunnings NPC despite playing just four matches. 

Will this be the match that firmly establishes Canterbury as the side to beat in the Bunnings NPC this season, or will Hawke’s Bay skate by yet again and keep a hold on first place in its division?

North Harbour Vs. Counties Manukau

Just what can stop Tevita Li right now? The former under-20 All Black and Blues and Highlanders stud was signed by North Harbour following a brief stint of playing club rugby in Japan and already has seven tries to his name in just four matches for North Harbour this season. However, the electric winger needs some help, because rugby isn’t won by one man. 

Despite Li’s hat-trick against Hawke’s Bay this past weekend in Napier, the Magpies still pulled ahead and squeezed out a narrow 25-23 victory at McLean Park, with North Harbour fullback Shaun Stevenson getting sin-binned with a yellow card just a minute before Hawke’s Bay hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes scored what proved to be the winning try in the 75th minute. 

North Harbour’s scheduled midweek clash against Canterbury may affect its placement in the standings—and Li’s try total—but no matter what happens, a Counties Manukau team that’s now full of momentum after pulling off an 18-13 win over Bay of Plenty will visit North Harbour at QBE Stadium in Albany. 

Still, don’t sleep on the hosts, especially as they aim to get back to form after the Hawke’s Bay defeat ended a two-game mini win streak. The showdown between playmakers Riley Hohepa (53 points) of Counties Manukau and Bryn Gatland (48 points) of North Harbour should also provide plenty of action.