Heat miss out on semis despite century

The Counties Manukau Heat might have put on a century yesterday, but they have dramatically missed out on a place in the Farah Palmer Cup semifinals.

Instead, it will be the Auckland Storm joining Waikato as the top two qualifiers from the North Pool, under this year’s format.

Needing a bonus-point win for starters against the Taranaki Whio in Inglewood yesterday, Counties were always going to keep up their end of the bargain against a side who went winless in their first two seasons in the competition, then picked up a solitary victory this year. It was just going to be how many.

And the visitors to TET Stadium & Events Centre duly obliged by cantering to a 109-3 win, running in a whopping 17 tries.

However, the Northland Kauri’s bonus-point 32-0 victory over the Bay of Plenty Volcanix in Mt Maunganui dashed the Heat’s hopes of making it six successive playoff appearances.

That is because Northland and

Counties now finish equal on 21 points, and even if Auckland (21) don’t pick up any points today against Waikato (23) – who had secured their spot in the semis last weekend – they will go through on the competition’s tiebreaker rules.

Auckland and Waikato will now be duking it out to determine who is No 1 and who’s No 2 in the pool.

Whoever finishes top will have a semifinal matchup against the Manawatu¯ Cyclones, who sealed second spot in the South Pool on Friday night with their 29-12 win over the Hawke’s Bay Tui in Napier.

The side who finish second in the North will have the tough task of taking on three-time defending champions Canterbury, who had already confirmed their spot at the top of the South Pool, then finished the regular season with an 84-0 demolition of the Tasman Mako in Christchurch.