All to play for in congested Farah Palmer Cup
As the final round of the Farah Palmer Cup approaches, only two teams can breathe easy - Counties Manukau and Canterbury.
They have both clinched a place in the semifinals with a game to spare, after respectively drawing with Auckland and beating Waikato at the weekend.
Auckland will host Waikato next Saturday, with the winner of that match likely to join those two in the semifinals. Manawatu and Wellington are lurking too, but face tough matches, at home to Counties Manukau and away to Canterbury, but could still advance even with losses, depending on the Aucklandwaikato result.
Canterbury booked their place in the playoffs yesterday afternoon, with a 31-20 win over Waikato in Hamilton, while Auckland and Manawatu couldn’t be separated on Saturday in Palmerston North, scoring 15 points apiece. Leaders Counties Manukau were too strong for Wellington earlier that afternoon, winning 43-13.
Heading into the final round, Auckland sit in third on 19 points, ahead of Manawatu on 18, Wellington on 17, and Waikato on 15. Counties Manukau have 27 and Canterbury 24.
Meanwhile, in the Championship, Bay of Plenty have locked in hosting rights for the final, where they will face either Otago or North Harbour
for a place in the Premiership next year.
On Saturday, they beat Otago 27-17 in Dunedin to secure top spot.
Otago remain second, and will travel to QBE Stadium next Sunday to play third-placed North Harbour, in a match that will determine the host for a rematch a week later, where a place in the decider will be at stake.
North Harbour had a win yesterday, beating Tasman 25-12 in the wet in Nelson, and sit on nine points, one behind Otago.
Hawke’s Bay had the bye this weekend, and will play Tasman next week in a battle of two teams who are yet to register a point.