I am just returned from Week four action of the ITM Cup competition, having watched the Counties-Manukau v Bay of Plenty match in Pukekohe, Auckland . It is late Sunday afternoon and not only is the scoring action still fresh in my mind, but so too are the big hits, which you can literally feel from the sidelines. It was a good match, an entertaining afternoon’s watch but if you were present then you would agree with me that it is a hundred times better standing close to the action, than sitting prone on a couch or a lounge chair.
It is not that I mention this because of the memorable scoreline [26-37] nor because of any controversy either, no it is that being among the thousands in attendance on a wet Sunday afternoon, I realize that it is sitting ‘among the throng of fans’ that is the drawing card for all who were there. Being there with your friends, family and team mates is special – at halftime there was a formal presentation of a jersey to Joeli Vidiri, who is still battling Kidney disease. Counties-Manukau former players stood in a guard of honour for the ex-All Black, Counties and Blues legend as Phil Kingsley Jones asked the crowd to get to their feet. Cheers Joeli.
Being present holds that unique place in our society, and that rings true if you are in Auckland, or in Waikanae or at the Stoop in Twickenham, London. So this weekend there were ITM Cup games played here, Heartland rugby matches in the lower North Island while in London, there was the ‘#RugbyAid festival match’ and an International friendly test between Fiji and Canada. At each match, fans went along for different reasons but we all get joy from the occasion. That is where sport holds a special place in peoples hearts.
In smaller towns and villages, provincial matches of the Heartland Championship are even more popular, as they are not only an ‘event’ in the town, but give a sense of community for friends and family to meet and to socialize. In Waikane, just south of Levin, the day is celebrated and is on most peoples calendar as a meeting place for sport, commerce and a tradition that dates back generations.
And the RugbyNZ_ Overview this week hopes to shine a light on these local matches played, and the fantastic Rugby competitions we have in NZ.
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ITM CUP – Week Four
Action in the ITM Cup competition this week brought up a few surprises – Auckland defeating Waikato in Hamilton was one, and that result has made an impression on the table standings. The Makos still sit at the top of the Premiership standings, after taking victory away from hosts Otago and seem only troubled in points scored by Wellington [50+ points scored yet again] and it just reinforces the fact that we have one of the strongest competitions in the world here.
It is at the top level, and when you now add in the possible schedule of two matches per week, sides need to adapt to the draining nature of this competition. Last week, Southland had a win, but were then upset late in the week by North Harbour, so teams this week (Taranaki and Counties-Manukau) had to focus on recovery. Less intensive training, but also maintaining fitness – this challenge will impact on the points standings, and Taranaki must be commended for taking their two opportunities this week to put their 2015 Premiership campaign back on track.
In this important period of the competition, focusing on those three games within a 12 day period will be a real test for most sides preparations. But it also characterizes the the fact that fans [like myself] can enjoy top shelf rugby, week in and week out and I am enjoying these matches both first-hand and on television coverage, five days a week. And with 5 teams scoring 50 points or more, then this is truly Rugby Heaven!
Results: Wednesday 2nd September, Taranaki 17 Counties-Manukau 10 | Thursday 3rd September, Manawatu 7 Canterbury 57 | Friday 4th September, Otago 17 Tasman 34 | Saturday 5th August, Waikato 28 Auckland 50 | Southland 3 Wellington 53 | Hawkes Bay 48 North Harbour 34 | Sunday 6th September, Northland 7 Taranaki 50 | Counties-Manukau 26 Bay of Plenty 37
LWOS Player of the Week – Marty Banks.
On Friday night, in the glorious surrounds of his familiar Forsyth-Barr stadium, Tasman Mako first-five Marty Banks gave a wonderful performance that will reinforce his standing as one of the leading players in NZ rugby. The Highlander who had already enjoyed a championship with the Dunedin Super Rugby franchise, now played a major part in Tasman successfully taking a victory away from the Otago Rugby team. This cross-conference game began with a try inside the first minute, and by the 60th minute, Banks had played a hand in many tries, converting many of those to reinforce his standing.
One of a very few handful of players that have played in all three competitions, and to have been successful in each division. He played for Buller in the Heartland Championship in 2012, a side who triumphed in the Lochore Cup final. Banks then moved to the Tasman Makos, playing in the ITM Cup and in 2014 that side went on to be runner-up to Taranaki, losing in the Premiership final. He topped that with The Highlanders side, kicking the winning drop-goal to seal a superb 2015 season and ensure his mark had been left on all three of the competitions.
And he is still only 25 – yet to wear the Silver Fern in fact and we may be witnessing a great player emerging. Who knows what successes he may still be a part of.
ITM Cup News – With the All Blacks side chosen to head up to the Rugby World Cup (RWC) that left remaining players to bolster this competition. Obviously disappointed, the dozen or so players would need to keep up their fitness levels up through gametime and be available for ‘call-up’ if injury might strike the RWC squad. That meant Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau and the rest, would all be ready to use the ITM Cup as an output for any frustration at not being selected.
Their class would show through, with Dagg always a menace for the Bay and Piuta giving a great example of his adaptability playing at centre for Auckland. Not taking away from the hard working and talented ITM Cup players, but having a gem like this in your team would benefit any side and even if they are called up, they bring out the best in the whole squad while they are within the group.
Future fixtures: Wednesday 9th September, Auckland v Manawatu | Thursday 10th September, Waikato v Southland | Friday 11th September, Wellington v Tasman | Saturday 12th September, North Harbour v Counties-Manukau | Bay of Plenty v Taranaki | Canterbury v Hawke’s Bay | Sunday 13th September: Auckland v Southland | Manawatu v Northland
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HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP – Week Three
Results: Buller 13 Wairapa Bush 14 | Thames Valley 50 East Coast 13 | South Canterbury 40 West Coast 24 | Horowhenua-Kapiti 54 Poverty Bay 26 | Mid Canterbury 25 King Country 17 | North Otago 10 Wanganui 40
Game of the week – Poverty Bay traveled West to meet Horowhenua-Kapiti in Waikanae, for a great example of Heartland rugby. From my sources, it was a ‘full house’ in the Kapiti heartland, with great lead-up matches for many age grade rugby matches. A family affair, the main game was a 80 point sensational example of the strength of the representative game.
The lower North Island side overwhelmed the visitors in the first half, with a wealth of possession that resulted in a halftime score of 30-7. The proud Poverty Bay side needed to spark a great comeback, and while it did challenge at times, in the end they could only standby as the hosts crossed the line six times and had the better of their opposition. The 54-26 win was the first for Horowhenua-Kapiti this season, and will hopefully hold them well in next weeks match against East Coast, up in Ruatoria.
Heartland News – Mid Canterbury are now the only unbeaten side, sitting at the head of the table, they will hope to continue that run toward another Meads Cup semi-final, but the race for positions two, three and four are going to be exciting to watch. Thames Valley will hope to upset King Country, as will South Canterbury when they face Wairapa Bush. It is ‘moving time’ in the championship, a loss might see you fall out of contention and this shows the beauty, and value of this Pink Batts Heartland Championship.
Future fixtures: Saturday 12th September – Wairapa Bush v South Canterbury, Masterton | Wanganui v Buller, Wanganui | West Coast v Mid Canterbury, Greymouth | East Coast v Horowhenua-Kapiti, Ruatoria | King Country v Thames Valley, Taupo | Poverty Bay v North Otago, Gisbourne
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WOMENS PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP – Week Three
Results: Waikato 27 Wellington 16 | Bay of Plenty 22 Hawke’s Bay 19 | Counties-Manukau 44 Manawatu 15 (BYE: Auckland, Canterbury and Otago)
Only the three matches in this competition, it impacted on the standings as Waikato took an advantage over Wellington. A solid effort to win by 11 points, the close result has not brought them closer to Auckland’s impressive points differential, and they will hope to build on that win and the form of standout player Stacey Waaka. She scored twice for Waikato to extend her lead in the individual try scoring stakes, and now has seven in the competition.
In other results, Bay of Plenty fought hard to hold down the Hawke’s Bay team, taking them off the bottom of the table (where the Bay now sit) and a convincing Counties-Manukau team put Manawatu to the sword in a great effort that places them equal with Auckland after two games, and increases the importance of next weeks encounter between the two powerhouses of Women’s rugby.
Future fixtures: Saturday 12th September – Canterbury v Otago, Christchurch | Hawke’s Bay v Wellington, Napier | Manawatu v Waikato, Palmerston North | Auckland v Counties-Manukau, Auckland
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