Northland spoiled Colin Cooper's Taranaki homecoming with a hard-fought 26-19 win in the ITM Cup opener in New Plymouth.

Having recruited well in the off-season Taranaki was expected to get its season off to a flyer at Yarrow Stadium under new coach Cooper, but the Taniwha had other ideas and outscored its opponents three tries to one, although two of them came courtesy of intercepts passes from Jayden Hayward.

Flanker Dean Budd and right wing Simon Munro crossed the whitewash for Northland in the first half and Lachie Munro slid over for the visitors in the second, with openside Chris Walker getting Taranaki's only try.

Instead the amber and blacks were forced to rely on the boot of Willie Ripia, who kicked a conversion and four penalties for a 14-point haul.

Lachie Munro was given the kicking duties ahead David Holwell and added a further 11 points with the boot for Northland.

As to be expected in the first match of the provincial season, the first 10 minutes were disjointed with both sides struggling to claim kick-offs and passes often going astray.

Munro and Ripia traded early penalties to give Taranaki a 6-3 lead but it was Northland that settled quickest with Rene Ranger, not wanted by the All Blacks in Melbourne, dangerous whenever he got ball in hand.

The visitors' first try came with Taranaki hot on attack as new wing David Smith featured twice in the move before Hayward threw a looping pass that Northland flanker Budd seized and raced 60 plus metres to score.

Munro added the extras for a 10-6 lead which was reduced to a point when Ripia slotted his third penalty of the night.

Northland though continued to capitalise on Taranaki errors and when the amber and blacks lost the ball driving from the lineout it was spun out wide to Ranger who split the Taranaki defence with ease then flicked the ball out the back to Simon Munro and he dotted down in the corner.

That seemed to spark the hosts and in the 30th minute they profited from turnover ball and although Jarrad Hoeata was hauled down just short of the line, Walker was on his shoulder to pick up and dive over. Ripia's conversion put the home side in front but in the final 10 minutes it changed hands twice more as the Taranaki first-five and Northland's wing exchanged penalties.

Hayward's night didn't improve when he gifted Lachie Munro a try with his second intercept pass just seven minutes into the second half.

Northland's lineout had been shaky and when they lost another one Taranaki looked set to capitalise.

But Hayward threw a pass instead of taking the ball into contact and Munro pounced and although Andre Taylor managed to catch him the left wing was able to slide over and score but couldn't add the extras.

It left Taranaki chasing the game and despite having the better of the set-piece all too often the amber and blacks forced a pass, dropped ball or conceded penalties when in good attacking positions and Northland was able to soak up the pressure.

The visitors, when they did get the ball, were happy to chance their arm and keep it in hand with Ranger ever the menace.

But it was Munro who had the final say when he banged over a long range penalty to seal the important first-up win.

Scorers:
Taranaki 19
Try: Walker
Con: Ripia:
Pen: Ripia 4

Northland: 26
Tries: Budd, S Munro, L Munro
Con: L Munro
Pen: L Munro 3