Sunday 19th, March
In the third round of the Ruben Wiki Cup, the South Island Scorpions met the Counties Manukau Stingrays at Forsyth Barr stadium in Dunedin.
South Island came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders as their execution on attacking and defensive plays were clinical. The Scorpions forced Counties Manukau to commit errors in their own half due to heavy defensive pressure as they scored two tries from centre Izyah Hesp and winger Saki Loma.
Counties answered back with a try of their own as Malachi Tony scored with a nippy run out of dummy-half. South Island would go on to score another try before heading into halftime with the score at 18-6.
Counties would come out of halftime determined as they were first to strike in the second half with fullback Robin Herbert scoring under the post. Counties would continue their momentum as they managed to score again gaining the lead for the first time in the game.
The game would continue as an arm-wrestle as both teams would go back and forth however South Island would show their class as they slowly started to dominate possession and gain quick play the balls which converted into tries for the Scorpions.
Counties Manukau would score a late try however it was too little too late as South Island would come away with the victory 38-24 as they advance into the semi-finals next week against Waikato.