It took until the last minute, of the last match, of the last regular round of ITM Cup, to confirm all the details for this year’s Premiership and Championship semifinals to be confirmed.
A nail-biter of a finish that went into the 83rd minute saw Counties Manukau sustain a relentless attack from a determined Tasman in the dying minutes of the game – Tasman needing a try to level the score, and claim top of the ITM Cup Premiership at the end of the round robin.
In the end Counties Manukau did enough to hold on for a 21-16 victory.
It was Tasman’s last chance to claim top seed at the end of the regular competition, after Premiership table leaders Taranaki lost their match to Canterbury. The red and blacks made a remarkable come from behind return to take this afternoon’s game 26-23 in New Plymouth.
Meawhile, Northland and Southland both confirmed their places in the Championship semifinals programme.
The ITM Cup 2014 Semifinals to be played next weekend are:
Friday 17 October
Championship semifinal: Hawke’s Bay v Northland
McLean Park, Napier
Kick-off: 7:35pm
Saturday 18 October
Championship semifinal: Manawatu v Southland
FMG Stadium, Palmerston North
Kick-off: 2:05pm
Premiership semifinal: Taranaki v Auckland
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Kick-off: 4:35pm
Premiership semifinal: Tasman v Canterbury
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Kick-off: 7:05pm
All times New Zealand Pacific.
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