1976 National Provincial Championship

The National Provincial Championship, also known in short as the NPC or commercially known as the 'Radio New Zealand National Championship', was the predecessor to the current ITM Cup and Heartland Championship in New Zealand rugby. 1976 was the first year of the National Provincial Championship, Bay of Plenty were the winners of Division 1, while Taranaki and South Canterbury were the winners of Division 2 North Island and Division 2 South Island respectively.

Division 1

Standings

These were the NPC Division 1 standings for the 1976 season.

Radio New Zealand National Championship 1976 Division 1
	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	Pts
1	Bay of Plenty	10	8	1	1	195	112	+83	25	17
2	Manawatu (RS)	10	7	1	1	142	104	+38	17	15
3	Auckland	10	6	1	3	160	133	+27	19	13
4	Canterbury	10	6	0	4	153	118	+35	20	12
5	Counties	10	6	0	4	118	107	+11	20	12
6	Wellington	10	5	1	4	165	122	+43	20	11
7	Otago	10	4	2	4	106	148	+42	11	10
8	Hawke's Bay	10	4	0	6	125	130	-5	18	8
9	Marlborough	10	3	0	7	146	192	-46	19	6
10	Southland	10	2	1	7	105	161	-56	13	5
11	North Auckland	10	0	1	9	76	164	−88	8	1

Games

May 1976

	12 May 1976	Hawke's Bay	7 – 10	Auckland	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: R.L. Stuart Pen: R.K. Whinham		Try: T.M. Saseve Pen: S.L. Watt Drop: M.K. Sisam	Referee: W.L. Adlam (Wanganui)

	19 May 1976	Canterbury	23 – 9	Marlborough	Lancaster Park, Christchurch
		Try: S.C. Cartwright T.W. Mitchell M.R. MacEwan J.K. Phillips Con: M.D. Heffernan (2) Pen: M.D. Heffernan		Pen: S.W.P. Marfell (3)	Referee: D.H. Millar (Otago)

June 1976

	7 June 1976	Manawatu	23 – 13	Wellington	Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North
		Tries: D.L. Rollerson (2), K. W. Granger Con: D.L. Rollerson Pen: D.L. Rollerson (2)		Tries: G.W. Skipper Pen: C.J. Currie (2) Drop: B.W. Cederwall	Referee: C.P. Gregan ( Waikato )

	16 June 1976	Counties	12 – 19	Auckland	The Stadium, Pukekohe
		Tries: L.J. Hughes, A.G. Dalton, Patrick Yates		Tries: T.G. Morrison (2) Con: S.L. Watts Pen: S.L. Watts (2) Drop: P.J. Parlane	Referee: I.J. Clarke ( Waikato)

	26 June 1976	North Auckland	3 – 12	Auckland	Okara Park Stadium, Whangarei
		Pen: S. Semenoff		Tries: D.L. Palmer Con: S.L. Watt Pen: S.L. Watt Drop: H.K. Whiu	Referee: K.H. Lynch ( Poverty Bay)

	26 June 1976	Counties	4 – 15	Wellington	The Stadium, Pukekohe
		Tries: Patrick Yates		Tries: Grant Grifith Con: C.J. Currie Pen: C.J. Currie (3)	Referee: M.G. Farnworth ( Auckland)

July 1976

	3 July 1976	Bay of Plenty	9 – 10	Counties	The Stadium, Rotorua
		Pen: T.J. Waaka (2) Drop: L.J. Brake		Tries: R.J. Palmer, H.J. Habraken Con: G.K. Taylor	Referee: D. Cooper ( Poverty Bay)

	8 July 1976	Manawatu	19 – 6	North Auckland	Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North
		Tries: M.G. Watts, M.W. Donaldson, G.S. Bowater Con: D.L. Rollerson (2) Drop: D.L. Rollerson		Pen: B.H. McCarroll (2)	Referee: B.W. Duffy ( Taranaki)

	10 July 1976	Wellington	13 – 0	North Auckland	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Tries: Stu Wilson, K.L. Phelan Con: C.J. Currie Pen: C.J. Currie			Referee: B. Williams ( West Coast)

	13 July 1976	Marlborough	24 – 17	North Auckland	Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
		Tries: D.W. Neal (2), B.P. Dwyer Con: K.G. Sutherland (3) Pen: K.G. Sutherland Drop: R.E. Gordon		Tries: P.R. Halse (2), D.A. Haynes Con: B.H. McCarroll Pen: B.H. McCarroll	Referee: N.C. Thomas ( Manawatu)

	17 July 1976	Southland	9 – 23	Manawatu	Rugby Park, Invercargill
		Tries: C.R. Davis Con: G.T. Valli Pen: G.T. Valli		Tries: P.W. Broederlow, K.G. Maharey, M.A. Wright, D.L. Rollerson Con: D.L. Rollerson (2) Drop: D.L. Rollerson	Referee: L. Te Au ( South Canterbury)

	20 July 1976	Otago	0 – 0	Manawatu	Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin
					Referee: J.G. MacDonald ( North Otago)

	20 July 1976	Marlborough	15 – 25	Auckland	Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
		Tries: D.W. Neal, M.J. Best Con: K.G. Sutherland (2) Pen: K.G. Sutherland		Tries: T.G. Morrison, H.K. Whiu, B.G. Ashworth, G.J. Rich Con: S.L. Watt (3) Pen: S.L. Watt	Referee: A. Creighton ( Otago)

	24 July 1976	Hawke's Bay	33 – 10	Marlborough	Nelson Park, Hastings
		Tries: R.P. Hunter (3), I.G. Grant, R.P. Bremmer Con: R.D. Cox (2) Pen: R.D. Cox (3)		Tries: M.J. Best Pen: K.G. Sutherland Drop: R.E. Gordon	Referee: D.R. Buckland ( Wellington)

	27 July 1976	Counties	10 – 6	Marlborough	The Stadium, Pukekohe
		Tries: R.J. Palmer Pen: R.N. Lendrum Drop: R.N. Lendrum		Tries: S.W.P. Marfell Con: K.G. Sutherland	Referee: R.C. Francis ( Wairarapa Bush)

	31 July 1976	Marlborough	13 – 24	Bay of Plenty	Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
		Tries: P.G. Neal Pen: K.G. Sutherland (3)		Tries: E.J.T. Stokes (2), J.B. Spry, Allan McNaughton, Graham Moore Con: Gregory Rowlands	Referee: N.B. Whittaker ( Manawatu)

August 1976

	4 August 1976	Wellington	18 – 18	Bay of Plenty	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Tries: G.W. Skipper Con: B.W. Cederwall Pen: B.W. Cederwall (4)		Pen: Gregory Rowlands (4), T.J. Waaka Drop: Gregory Rowlands	Referee: M.G. Farnworth ( Auckland)

	7 August 1976	Manawatu	9 – 28	Bay of Plenty	Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North
		Pen: D.L. Rollerson (2), S.M. Murphy		Tries: E.J.T. Stokes, N.M. Taylor, J.T. Kamizona, L. Keepa Con: Gregory Rowlands (3) Pen: Gregory Rowlands (2)	Referee: R.J. Watson ( North Auckland)

	7 August 1976	Southland	9 – 10	Otago	Rugby Park, Invercargill
		Pen: G.T. Valli (2) Drop: N.J. Polson		Tries: Kenneth Mitchell Pen: B.W. Wilson Drop: B.A. Guthrie	Referee: T.F. Doocey ( Canterbury)

	11 August 1976	Otago	6 – 18	Hawke's Bay	Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin
		Pen: B.W. Wilson (2)		Tries: T.J. Carter, P.J. Ryan, D.S. McCarroll Con: R.D. Cox (3)	Referee: B. Williams ( West Coast)

	11 August 1976	Manawatu	15 – 10	Canterbury	Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North
		Tries: P.W. Broederlow Con: D.L. Rollerson Pen: D.L. Rollerson (2) Drop: Brian Morris		Tries: Vance Stewart, M.D. Heffernan Con: M.D. Heffernan	Referee: W.L. Adlam ( Wanganui)

	14 August 1976	Southland	6 – 7	Hawke's Bay	Rugby Park, Invercargill
		Pen: G.T. Valli (2)		Tries:R.L. Stuart Pen: R.D. Cox	Referee: J. Walker ( Otago)

	14 August 1976	North Auckland	13 – 21	Canterbury	Okara Park Stadium, Whangarei
		Tries: M.J. Gunson Pen: B.H. McCarroll (2), R.D. Laurie		Tries: S.C. Cartwright (2), J.K. Phillips, A.C.R. Jefferd Con: M.D. Heffernan Pen: M.D. Heffernan	Referee: J.R. Innes ( Counties)

	17 August 1976	Bay of Plenty	12 – 6	Canterbury	The Domain, Tauranga
		Tries: Graham Moore Con: Gregory Rowlands Pen: Gregory Rowlands Drop: L.J. Brake		Pen: R.G. Wilson (2)	Referee: K.H. Lynch ( Poverty Bay)

	18 August 1976	Auckland (RS)	9 – 9	Southland	Eden Park, Auckland
		Pen: S.L. Watt (3)		Tries: D.R. Saunders Con: G.T. Valli Pen: G.T. Valli	Referee: B.W. Duffy ( Taranaki)

	21 August 1976	Auckland (RS)	10 – 12	Manawatu	Eden Park, Auckland
		Tries: Andy Haden, T.G. Morrison Con: S.L. Watt		Tries: D.L. Rollerson Con: D.A. Hales Pen: D.L. Rollerson Drop: D.L. Rollerson	Referee: C.P. Gregan ( Waikato )

	21 August 1976	Canterbury	13 – 6	Hawke's Bay	Lancaster Park, Christchurch
		Tries: A.J. Wyllie, S.C. Cartwright Con: M.D. Heffernan Pen: M.D. Heffernan		Pen: R.D. Cox (2)	Referee: G.L. Harrison ( Wellington)

	21 August 1976	Bay of Plenty	27 – 12	Southland	The Domain, Whakatane
		Tries: E.J.T. Stokes (2), P.M. Horrocks, A.C. Brown, Graham Moore Con: Gregory Rowlands, T.J. Waaka Pen: Gregory Rowlands		Tries: L.M. Rutledge Con: G.T. Valli Pen: G.T. Valli (2)	Referee: J.P.G. Pring (Auckland)

	24 August 1976	Counties	12 – 14	Manawatu	The Stadium, Pukekohe
		Tries: Patrick Yates (2) Con: M.M. Codlin (2)		Tries: K.W. Granger, D.L. Rollerson, M.G. Watts Con: D.A. Hales	Referee: L. Paul

	24 August 1976	North Auckland	9 – 15	Southland	Okara Park Stadium, Whangarei
		Tries: M.M. Dyer Con: B.H. McCarroll Pen: B.H. McCarroll		Tries: L.M. Rutledge, A.A. McGregor Con: G.T. Valli (2) Pen: G.T. Valli	Referee: K.H. Lawrence ( Bay of Plenty)

	28 August 1976	Auckland	28 – 31	Bay of Plenty	Eden Park, Auckland
		Tries: T.G. Morrison, D.N. Thorn, G.J. Rich Con: S.L. Watt (2) Pen: S.L. Watt (3) Drop: P.M. Richards		Tries: A.C. Brown, N.M. Taylor, Graham Moore Con: Gregory Rowlands (2) Pen: Gregory Rowlands (4) Drop: L.J. Brake	Referee: D.H. Millar ( Otago)

	28 August 1976	Hawke's Bay	25 – 16	North Auckland	McLean Park, Napier
		Tries: D.S. McCarroll (2), P.J. Durham (2), R.P. Hunter Con: R.D. Cox Pen: R.D. Cox		Tries: H.K. Sowman, D.A. Haynes, M.J. Gunson Con: B.H. McCarroll (2)	Referee: A. Bailey ( Wellington)

	28 August 1976	Otago	16 – 6	Counties	Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin
		Tries: T.J. Burcher Pen: B.W. Wilson (3) Drop: B.W. Wilson		Pen: M.M. Codlin (2)	Referee: A.R. Taylor ( Canterbury)

	28 August 1976	Wellington	14 – 15	Canterbury	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Tries: Stu Wilson (2) Pen: R.S. Cleland (2)		Tries: P.A. Macfie, Don Stewart Con: M.D. Heffernan (2) Pen: M.D. Heffernan	Referee: W.L. Adlam ( Wanganui)

September 1976

	1 September 1976	Southland	10 – 19	Counties	Rugby Park, Invercargill
		Tries: M.A. Mitchell, G.T. Valli Con: G.T. Valli		Tries: R.N. Lendrum, Peter Clotworthy, J. Rawiri Con: R.N. Lendrum (2) Pen: R.N. Lendrum	Referee: S.C. Miller ( South Canterbury)

	4 September 1976	Auckland	16 – 26	Otago	Eden Park, Auckland
		Tries: G.L. Colling, G.J. Rich Con: S.L. Watt Pen: S.L. Watt (2)		Tries: L.A. Clark, M.W.R. Jaffray, A.C. Barton, B.W. Wilson Con: B.W. Wilson (2) Pen: B.W. Wilson (2)	Referee: P.A. McDavitt ( Wellington)

	4 September 1976	Hawke's Bay	13 – 25	Wellington	Nelson Park, Hastings
		Tries: Junior Paraha, P.J. Durham Con: R.D. Cox Pen: R.D. Cox		Tries: W.G. Proctor (2), Stu Wilson (2) Con: R.S. Cleland (3) Pen: R.S. Cleland	Referee: K.H. Lynch ( Poverty Bay)

	4 September 1976	Canterbury	6 – 11	Counties	Lancaster Park, Christchurch
		Pen: M.D. Heffernan (2)		Tries: Patrick Yates (2) Drop: R.N. Lendrum	Referee: B.M. Dawson ( Southland)

	4 September 1976	Marlborough	28 – 12	Southland	Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
		Tries: B.R. Ford, R.E. Gordon, John Davie, D.W. Neal Con: K.G. Sutherland (3) Pen: K.G. Sutherland Drop: K.R. Hodges		Tries: L.M. Rutledge (2) Con:G.T. Valli (2)	Referee: J.G. Macdonald ( North Otago)

	4 September 1976	North Auckland	3 – 17	Bay of Plenty	Okara Park Stadium, Whangarei
		Pen: R.D. Laurie		Tries: Graham Moore, N.M. Taylor, Gregory Rowlands Con: Gregory Rowlands Pen: Gregory Rowlands	Referee: C.P. Gregan ( Waikato )

	8 September 1976	North Auckland	3 – 3	Otago	Okara Park Stadium, Whangarei
		Pen: R.D. Laurie		Pen: B.W. Wilson	Referee: R.J. Watson ( North Auckland)

	12 September 1976	Canterbury	16 – 7	Southland	Lancaster Park, Christchurch
		Tries: G.E. Brain Pen: M.D. Heffernan (4)		Tries: C.R. Davis Drop: B.J. McKechnie	Referee: D.H. Millar ( Otago)

	12 September 1976	Manawatu(RS)	15 – 3	Hawke's Bay	Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North
		Tries: M.G. Watts, A.C. Innes Con: D.L. Rollerson (2) Pen: D.L. Rollerson		Pen: R.D. Cox	Referee: J.P.G. Pring ( Auckland)

	12 September 1976	Wellington	9 – 12	Auckland	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Tries: G.W. Skipper Con: R.S. Cleland Pen: R.S. Cleland		Tries: T.G. Morrison, Andy Haden Con: S.L. Watt (2)	Referee: N.C. Thomas ( Manawatu)

	13 September 1976	Bay of Plenty	19 – 6	Otago	The Stadium, Rotorua
		Tries: J.T. Kamizona, P.M. Horrocks, L.J. Brake Con: Gregory Rowlands (2) Pen: Gregory Rowlands		Pen: B.W. Wilson (2)	Referee: W.L. Adlam ( Wanganui)

	15 September 1976	Counties	15 – 6	North Auckland	The Stadium, Pukekohe
		Tries: E.S. McRobbie, R.N. Lendrum Con: M.M. Codlin (2) Pen: M.M. Codlin		Pen: Ross McAllister (2)	Referee: B.W. Duffy ( Taranaki)

	16 September 1976	Southland	16 – 13	Wellington	Rugby Park, Invercargill
		Tries: J.W. Ellis, R.A. Ramsey, D.R. Saunders Con: G.T. Valli (2)		Tries: G.W. Skipper, W.G. Proctor Con: R.S. Cleland Pen: C.J. Currie	Referee: B. Williams ( West Coast)

	18 September 1976	Auckland	19 – 9	Canterbury	Eden Park, Auckland
		Tries: D.N. Thorn, J.S. McLachlan Con: S.L. Watt Pen: S.L. Watt (3)		Pen: M.D. Heffernan (3)	Referee: N.B. Whittaker ( Manawatu)

	18 September 1976	Otago	7 – 29	Wellington	Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin
		Tries: J.S. Colling Pen: B.W. Wilson		Tries: I.N. Stevens (2), P.B. Quinn, S.S. Wilson Con: C.J. Currie (2) Pen: C.J. Currie (2) Drop: J.P. Gougan	Referee: L. Te Au ( South Canterbury)

	18 September 1976	Marlborough	13 – 12	Manawatu	Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
		Tries: John Davie, B.R. Ford Con: K.G. Sutherland Pen: K.G. Sutherland		Pen: D.L. Rollerson (3) Drop: B. Wright	Referee: G.L. Harrison ( Wellington)

	18 September 1976	Bay of Plenty	10 – 7	Hawke's Bay	The Stadium Rotorua
		Tries: Gregory Rowlands Pen: Gregory Rowlands (2)		Tries: D.S. McCarroll Pen: R.D. Cox	Referee: J.R. Innes ( Counties)

	22 September 1976	Otago	20 – 14	Marlborough	Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin
		Tries: T.J. Burcher, A.C. Barton, M.W.R. Jaffray Con: B.W. Wilson Pen: B.W. Wilson Drop: B.W. Wilson		Tries: B.R. Ford, B.A. Kenny Pen: K.G. Sutherland (2)	Referee: B.M. Dawson ( Southland)

	25 September 1976	Canterbury	34 – 12	Otago	Lancaster Park, Christchurch
		Tries: D.J. Stewart (2), John Munro, A.C.R. Jefferd, J.C. Ashworth Con: M.D. Heffernan (4) Pen: M.D. Heffernan Drop: T.L. Mehrtens		Tries: R.A. Roy Con: B.W. Wilson Pen: B.W. Wilson (2)	Referee: A. Bailey ( Wellington)

	25 September 1976	Wellington	16 – 14	Marlborough	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Tries: S.S. Wilson, W.G. Proctor Con: C.J. Currie Pen: C.J. Currie (2)		Tries: A.R. Sutherland (3) Con: K.G. Sutherland	Referee: R.C. Francis ( Wairarapa Bush)

	25 September 1976	Hawke's Bay	6 – 19	Counties	McLean Park, Napier
		Pen: R.K. Whinham (2)		Tries: H.P. Milner (2), Patrick Yates, O.T. Burnside Drop: R.N. Lendrum	Referee: P.A. McDavitt ( Wellington)

Division 2 (North Island)

Standings

These were the NPC Division 2 standings (North Island) for the 1976 season.

Radio New Zealand National Championship 1976 Division 2 (North Island)
	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	Pts
1	Taranaki	8	8	0	0	209	49	+160	28	16
2	Wanganui	8	7	0	1	216	87	+129	31	14
3	King Country	8	4	1	3	110	144	-34	9	9
4	Poverty Bay	8	4	0	4	92	115	-23	11	8
5	Waikato	8	4	0	4	173	76	+97	28	8
6	Wairarapa Bush	8	4	0	4	98	107	-9	13	8
7	East Coast	8	2	0	6	41	214	-173	6	4
8	Thames Valley	8	1	1	6	70	128	-58	6	3
9	Horowhenua	8	1	0	7	94	183	-89	15	2

Games

May 1976

	8 May 1976	Horowhenua	11 – 12	East Coast	Park Domain Oval, Levin
		Tries: M.D. Nutting, L.R. Robinson Pen: L.R. Robinson		Pen: V.J. Takarangi (4)	Referee: C.J. Pedley ( Wanganui )

June 1976

	7 June 1976	Wanganui	12 – 32	Taranaki	Spriggens Park, Wanganui
		Tries: R.B. Dallison Con: R.B. Barrell Pen: R.B. Barrell (2)		Tries: A.I. Scown (2), J. O'Sullivan, R.P. Wharehoka, Herbie Kowhai Con: Paul Martin (2), S.C. Davidson Drop: Paul Martin, I.J. Snook	Referee: N.C. Thomas ( Manawatu)

	16 June 1976	Waikato	23 – 3	Thames Valley	Rugby Park, Hamilton
		Tries: P.C. Gilbert (2), A.L. Clark, R.G. Myers Con: A.W. Baker (2) Pen: A.W. Baker		Pen: W.G. Bax	Referee: H.K. Innes ( North Auckland)

	19 June 1976	Wanganui	45 – 4	Horowhenua	Spriggins Park, Wanganui
		Tries: A.B. Middleton (2), R.B. Barrell (2), F.W. Hill, R.B. Dallison, R.R.W. Manson Con: R.B. Barrell (4) Pen: R.B. Barrell (3)		Tries: M.G. Brodie	Referee: K.H. Lawrence ( Bay of Plenty)

	26 June 1976	Thames Valley	4 – 12	East Coast	Rugby Park, Waihi
		Tries: D.O. Strange		Tries: T.M. Keelan, W. Truman, J. McClutchie	Referee: G.R. Urbahn ( North Auckland)

July 1976

	3 July 1976	East Coast	0 – 22	Poverty Bay	Uawa Domain, Tolaga Bay
				Tries: G.R. Newlands Pen: G.B. Ross (5) Drop: G.B Ross	Referee: L.R. Woodgate ( Bay of Plenty)

	14 July 1976	Thames Valley	9 – 9	King Country	Sports Domain, Te Aroha
		Pen: W.G. Bax (3)		Try: M.R. Kidd Con: J.R. Barr Pen: J.R. Barr	Referee: I.A. Burrell ( Bay of Plenty)

	24 July 1976	Wanganui	28 – 9	King Country	Spriggens Park, Wanganui
		Tries: R.J. Murray, R.B. Dallison, P.A. Bailey, R.B. Stafford, A.B. Middleton Con: R.B. Barrell (4)		Pen: J.R. Barr (3)	Referee: C. Anderson ( Nelson Bays)

	28 July 1976	King Country	6 – 3	Wairarapa Bush	The Domain, Taumarunui
		Tries: P. Bowen Con: J.R. Barr		Pen: N.F. Kjestrup	Referee: G. Klatt ( Counties)

	31 July 1976	Waikato	7 – 8	Wairarapa Bush	Rugby Park, Hamilton
		Tries: K.M. Greene Pen: A.W. Baker		Tries: K.W. Carter (2)	Referee: B. Marsh ( Hawke's Bay)

August 1976

	7 August 1976	Horowhenua	11 – 16	Thames Valley	Park Domain Oval, Levin
		Tries: M.D. Nutting, M.G. Brodie Pen: M.G. Brodie		Tries: Pita Cherrington, D.O. Strange Con: K.D. Moloney Pen: K.D. Moloney (2)	Referee: I.W. Diprose ( Buller)

	10 August 1976	Wairarapa Bush	20 – 11	Thames Valley	Memorial Park, Masterton
		Tries: A.J. O'Neill Con: N.F. Kjestrup Pen: N.F. Kjestrup (2)		Tries: D.O. Strange, D.G. McMillan Pen: A.H. Fisher	Referee: A. Bailey ( Wellington)

	12 August 1976	Poverty Bay	13 – 6	Thames Valley	Rugby Park, Gisborne
		Tries: G.B. Ross, M. Whitehead Con: G.B. Ross Pen: G.B. Ross		Pen: K.D. Moloney (2)	Referee: L. Watkins ( Hawke's Bay)

	14 August 1976	Wairarapa Bush	18 – 4	East Coast	Rugby Park, Pahiatua
		Tries: A.J. O'Neill, R.E. Robertson Con: N.F. Kjestrup (2) Pen: N.F. Kjestrup (2)		Tries: R.N. Falcon	Referee: W.J. Bringans ( Wellington)

	14 August 1976	Taranaki	16 – 6	King Country	Rugby Park, New Plymouth
		Tries: J. O'Sullivan, G.N.K. Mourie Con: S.C. Davidson Pen: S.C. Davidson (2)		Tries: M.R. Kidd Con: N.W. Pye	Referee: N.C. Thomas ( Manawatu)

	17 August 1976	Thames Valley	12 – 20	Wanganui	The Domain, Paeroa
		Pen: W.G. Bax (4)		Tries: R.R.W. Manson, R.B. Dallison, V.B. Patrick Con: R.B. Barrell Pen: R.B. Barrell (2)	Referee: E.G. Pennell ( Auckland)

	18 August 1976	King Country	9 – 8	Poverty Bay	Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga
		Tries: D.M. Flavell Con: N.W. Pye Drop: M.D. Fluker		Tries: P.J. Duncan, G.W. Allen	Referee: L.R. Woodgate ( Bay of Plenty)

	19 August 1976	East Coast	3 – 54	Wanganui	Whakarua Park, Ruatoria
		Pen: H.T. Roberts		Tries: R.J. Murray (3), V.B. Patrick (2), Douglas Patchett, R.R.W. Manson, J.E. Knofflock, penalty try Con: R.B. Barrell (6) Pen: R.B. Barrell (2)	Referee: K.H. Lynch ( Poverty Bay)

	21 August 1976	Poverty Bay	7 – 17	Wanganui	Rugby Park, Gisborne
		Tries: R.A. Newlands Pen: John Whittle		Tries: J.E. Knofflock, Douglas Patchett Pen: R.B. Barrell (2) Drop: L.W. Stowell	Referee: P.A. Arthur ( Auckland)

	21 August 1976	King Country	13 – 47	Waikato	The Domain, Taumarunui
		Tries: M.R. Kidd, J.W. Tarrant Con: J.R. Barr Pen: J.R. Barr		Tries: R.B. Litt (2), K.J. Magill, M.B. Taylor, A.L. Clark, R.G. Myers, P.C. Gilbert Con: A.W. Baker (5) Pen: A.W. Baker (3)	Referee: H.L. Miller ( Counties)

	21 August 1976	Taranaki	6 – 3	Horowhenua	Rugby Park, New Plymouth
		Pen: S.C. Davidson (2)		Pen: M.G. Brodie	Referee: C. Aitken ( Nelson Bays)

	26 August 1976	East Coast	0 – 41	Taranaki	Whakarua Park, Ruatoria
				Tries: S.B. Brophy, D.G. Avison, R.B. McEldowney, I.M. Eliason, J. O'Sullivan, A.I. Scown Con: D.G. Avison (4) Pen: D.G. Avison (3)	Referee: G. Way ( Thames Valley)

	28 August 1976	Poverty Bay	6 – 43	Taranaki	Rugby Park, Gisborne
		Pen: G.B. Ross (2)		Tries: R.J. Fraser (2), S.B. Brophy (2), R.P. Wharehoka Con: D.G. Avison Pen: D.G. Avison (3) Drop: I.R. Snook (4)	Referee: I. Burrell ( Bay of Plenty)

	28 August 1976	Horowhenua	12 – 23	Wairarapa Bush	Park Domain Oval, Levin
		Tries: R.C. Pulowski, M.G. Brodie Con: M.G. Brodie (2)		Tries: Michael Barnes (2), B.J. McConnochie, B.B. Patrick Con: N.F. Kjestrup (2) Pen: N.F. Kjestrup	Referee: L.D. Daines ( Marlborough)

	28 August 1976	Wanganui	21 – 7	Waikato	Spriggins Park, Wanganui
		Tries: R.R.W. Manson, G.D. Mitchinson Con: R.B. Barrell (2) Pen: R.B. Barrell (3)		Tries: Michael Deane Pen: A.W. Baker	Referee: T.F. Doocey ( Canterbury)

September 1976

	4 September 1976	Poverty Bay	15 – 14	Waikato	Rugby Park, Gisborne
		Tries: Nigel Shanks, S.J. Spence Con: John Whittle (2) Pen: John Whittle		Tries: C. Ormsby, R.G. Myers Drop: B. Taylor (2)	Referee: N.B. Whittaker ( Manawatu)

	4 September 1976	Taranaki	42 – 10	Wairarapa Bush	Rugby Park, New Plymouth
		Tries: S.B. Brophy (2), J. O'Sullivan (2), G.N.K. Mourie, D.S. Loveridge, I.M. Eliason Con: D.G. Avison (4) Pen: D.G. Avison Drop: Paul Martin		Tries: N.P. Sargent Pen: N.F. Kjestrup (2)	Referee: C.J. Pedley ( Wairarapa Bush)

	7 September 1976	East Coast	0 – 39	Waikato	Whakarua Park, Ruatoria
				Tries: M.B. Taylor (2), R.B. Litt (2), K.J. Magill, P.C. Gilbert, G.L. Irwin, D.R. McGlashan Con: A.W. Baker (2) Pen: A.W. Baker	Referee: V. Thurston ( Hawke's Bay)

	8 September 1976	King Country	29 – 23	Horowhenua	Rugby Park, Te Kūiti
		Tries: M.R. Kidd (3), Graham Potaka, N.W. Pye, D.M. Flavell Con: M.J. Lang (3) Pen: M.J. Lang		Tries: P.L. Martin (2), M.D. Nutting, J.W. Luoni Con: M.G. Brodie (2) Pen: M.G. Brodie	Referee: C.W. Alford ( King Country)

	11 September 1976	Waikato	33 – 7	Horowhenua	Rugby Park, Hamilton
		Tries: C. Ormsby (2), K.M. Greene (2), J.W. O'Rourke Con: R.B. Litt (2) Pen: R.B. Litt (3)		Tries: M.D. Nutting Pen: M.G. Brodie	Referee: P.R. Harpur ( King Country)

	11 September 1976	Wairarapa Bush	3 – 6	Poverty Bay	Memorial Park, Masterton
		Pen: N.F. Kjestrup		Tries: G.R. Newlands Con: John Whittle	Referee: J.G.O. Stubbs ( King Country)

	15 September 1976	Horowhenua	23 – 15	Poverty Bay	Park Domain Oval, Levin
		Tries: M.D. Nutting (3), G.H. Hobson Con: M.G. Brodie (2) Pen: M.G. Brodie		Tries: G.W. Thompson, B.H. Sherriff Con: G.B. Ross (2) Pen: G.B. Ross	Referee: J. Luckin ( Taranaki)

	16 September 1976	Thames Valley	9 – 20	Taranaki	Rugby Park, Waihi
		Tries: Huia Martin Con: W.G. Bax Pen: W.G. Bax (3)		Tries: D.S. Loveridge, J. O'Sullivan Pen: D.G. Avison (3) Drop: I.R. Snook	Referee: K.H. Lawrence ( Bay of Plenty)

	18 September 1976	Wairarapa Bush	13 – 19	Wanganui	Memorial Park, Masterton
		Tries: B.B. Patrick Pen: N.F. Kjestrup (3)		Tries: R.B. Barrell, R.J. Murray Con: R.B. Barrell Pen: R.B. Barrell (3)	Referee: L. Auckram ( Horowhenua)

	18 September 1976	Waikato	3 – 9	Taranaki	Rugby Park, Hamilton
		Pen: A.W. Baker		Tries: G.N.K. Mourie Con: D.G. Avison Pen: Paul Martin	Referee: R.J. Watson ( North Auckland)

	18 September 1976	King Country	25 – 10	East Coast	Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga
		Tries: B.W. Donovan (2), M.R. Kidd, R.J. Takiari Con: M.J. Lang (3) Pen: I.A. McDonald		Tries: J. Morice, H. Reedy Con: H.T. Roberts	Referee: L.R. Woodgate ( Bay of Plenty)

Division 2 (South Island)

Standings

These were the NPC Division 2 standings (South Island) for the 1976 season.

Radio New Zealand National Championship 1976 Division 2 (South Island)
	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	Pts
1	South Canterbury	5	4	0	1	103	39	+64	14	8
2	Buller	5	3	0	2	64	40	+24	9	6
3	Nelson Bays	5	3	0	2	72	77	-5	11	6
4	Mid Canterbury	5	2	1	2	50	55	-5	6	5
5	West Coast	5	1	1	3	59	63	-4	6	3
6	North Otago	5	1	0	4	41	115	-74	6	2

Games

June 1976

	7 June 1976	Buller	9 – 14	Nelson Bays	Victoria Square, Westport
		Tries: C.F. Cochrane Con: G.W. Hart Pen: G.W. Hart		Tries: S.W. Robertson, P.A. Burgess, R. Neighbours Con: M. Hodgson	Referee: J.G. MacDonald (North Otago)

July 1976

	17 July 1976	Nelson Bays	17 – 14	Mid Canterbury	Trafalgar Park, Nelson
		Tries: C.C. Haigh (2) Pen: W.B. Lucre (3)		Tries: Peter MacGregor, M.H.L. Tapley Pen: M.H.L. Tapley (2)	Referee: L. Auckram (Horowhenua)

	21 July 1976	Buller	6 – 7	Mid Canterbury	Victoria Square, Westport
		Pen: G.W. Hart (2)		Tries: M.H.L. Tapley Pen: M.H.L. Tapley	Referee: T.K. Armstrong (Canterbury)

	24 July 1976	West Coast	9 – 9	Mid Canterbury	Cass Square, Hokitika
		Tries: G.J. Cook Con: R.F. Nelson Pen: R.F. Nelson		Pen: M.H.L. Tapley	Referee: P.R. Harpur (King Country)

	31 July 1976	West Coast	6 – 16	Buller	Rugby Park, Greymouth
		Pen: R.F. Nelson		Tries: C.A. Fussell, P.G. Alexander Con: G.W. Hart Pen: G.W. Hart (2)	Referee: G. Way (Thames Valley)

August 1976

	7 August 1976	Nelson Bays	24 – 3	North Otago	Rugby Park, Motueka
		Tries: S.W. Robertson, W.B. Lucre, C.C. Haigh, G. Organ Con: W.B. Lucre Pen: W.B. Lucre (2)		Pen: P.R. Whyte	Referee: R.A. Brown (Wairarapa Bush)

	14 August 1976	Mid Canterbury	17 – 13	North Otago	Showgrounds, Ashburton
		Tries: A.J. Grieve (2), M.H.L. Tapley Con: M.H.L. Tapley Pen: M.H.L. Tapley		Tries: R.J. May, P.R. Whyte Con: P.R. Whyte Pen: P.R. Whyte	Referee: L.M. Craven (Marlborough)

	14 August 1976	South Canterbury	15 – 9	West Coast	Fraser Park, Timaru
		Tries: R.S. Heron Con: D.A. Nicol Pen: D.A. Nicol (3)		Tries: C.R. Skates Con: R.F. Nelson Pen: R.F. Nelson	Referee: K. McLoughlin (Otago)

	17 August 1976	North Otago	16 – 7	West Coast	Centennial Park, Oamaru
		Tries: P. Johnson, P.R. Whyte, W.J. Cooper Con: P.R. Whyte (2)		Tries: B.G. Davidson Pen: R.F. Nelson	Referee: M. Jarvis (Southland)

	21 August 1976	Buller	14 – 7	South Canterbury	Victoria Square, Westport
		Tries: A.M. Mundy (2), J.R. Dickson Con: G.W. Hart		Tries: R.S. Heron Pen: D.A. Nicol	Referee: R.C. Francis (Wairarapa Bush)

	24 August 1976	Nelson Bays	10 – 23	South Canterbury	Trafalgar Park, Nelson
		Tries: G.J. Lummis Pen: W.B. Lucre (2)		Tries: P.J. Grant, R.S. Heron, A.M. McLaren Con: D.A. Nicol Pen: D.A. Nicol (3)	Referee: B.G. Whale (Wairarapa Bush)

September 1976

	4 September 1976	Mid Canterbury	3 – 10	South Canterbury	Showgrounds, Ashburton
		Pen: M.H.L. Tapley		Tries: R.S. Heron Pen: D.A. Nicol Drop: A.M. Goddard	Referee: A. Creighton (Otago)

	4 September 1976	Nelson Bays	7 – 28	West Coast	Trafalgar Park, Nelson
		Tries: C.C. Haigh Pen: W.B. Lucre		Tries: G.J. Cook (2), J.A. Steffan Con: R.F. Nelson (2) Pen: R.F. Nelson (2) Drop: R.F. Nelson, G.J. Cook	Referee: A.W. Lilley (Mid Canterbury)

	11 September 1976	South Canterbury	48 – 3	North Otago	Fraser Park, Timaru
		Tries: R.S. Heron (2), G.D. Hannan (2), I.D. Palmer, A.M. McLaren, N.F. Richards, Paul Hewitson Con: D.A. Nicol (5) Pen: D.A. Nicol (2)		Pen: P.R. Whyte	Referee: M. Jarvis (Southland)

	18 September 1976	North Otago	6 – 19	Buller	Centennial Park, Oamaru
		Tries: Richard McNamara Con: B. Simpson		Tries: A.M. Mundy (2), L.W. Kearns Con: T.G. Aldridge Pen: T.G. Aldridge (2)	Referee: A. Gormack (Southland)

Promotion/relegation games

As North Auckland came last in Division 1, the unbeaten winners of Division 2 (North Island) who were Taranaki got promoted to Division 1 to replace North Auckland.

South Canterbury who won Division 2 (South Island) had a chance to be promoted up to Division 1 where they faced Southland but lost the game 24 to 11 and so did not get promoted.

References

• thesilverfern.co.nz