Otago guaranteed a home semifinal

RUGBY

OTAGO is safely ensconced in the playoffs and will get a home semifinal at least.

Not all hope is lost for Southland, though it will need results to go its way and win its final two games.

Otago now sits on top of the Mitre 10 Cup Championship and will finish in the top two regardless of what happens over the next two games.

It takes on Southland in Invercargill this Friday night and then finishes with a match against Tasman at Forsyth Barr

Stadium in Dunedin on November 14.

Otago beat Canterbury last Friday night and with it moved to 29 points in the championship.

Hawke’s Bay had the chance to stay even on points with Otago or even go ahead but it lost 2217 to Bay of Plenty in Tauranga on Sunday. It got a bonus point from the narrow defeat and sits on 26 points.

Northland is still third on the ladder with 18 points despite being well beaten by North Harbour 248. It cannot catch Otago no matter what happens in the next two weekends.

Taranaki sits fourth on 17 points and blew its chance to make progress as it lost to CountiesManukau in a cliffhanger on Sunday.

Southland is on a run of losses and sits fifth on the ladder with just the two wins and has 11 points.

If it can win its last two games and grab a bonus point it could get ahead and into a playoff spot. It plays CountiesManukau in its final game of the season in Pukekohe.

Northland has a tough end to the season, visiting Auckland on

Saturday and then having to play Waikato, teams that are in the top four of the premiership.

Taranaki has to play Manawatu and then hosts Hawke’s Bay to finish its regular season.

Even CountiesManukau, on 10 points, is not without a chance as it takes on North Harbour this week, while Manawatu picked up its first win and is not 100% out of the running.

In recent years, four wins in the regular season has usually been enough to get a side into the playoffs.

But with so many teams knocking each other over it may be even three wins and bonus points could get a team through.

Southland last made the playoffs in 2014.

Hawke’s Bay will face Wellington this Sunday in Napier in a Ranfurly Shield match.

The competition leader at the end of the season has host rights through the playoffs.

In the last three seasons the team which has finished top of the championship ladder has gone on to the win the title.

Otago topped the ladder in 2016 but lost the final to North Harbour.