Desperate duo clash in big final
Canterbury’s loss to Wellington last weekend is unlikely to have upset Tasman Mako fans.
Knowing the red-and-blacks can’t bury their fourth straight campaign in the playoffs is bound to warm their cockles as they dare to dream of bagging their first national provincial title.
The unbeaten Mako will feature in one of six provincial finals across the Mitre 10 Cup, Farah Palmer Cup and Heartland Championship in the coming days.
1. Fourth time lucky for Tasman?
Mention 2014 to a Mako fan and they’ll fill a paper bag reliving Taranaki’s 36-32 triumph in New Plymouth, where a furious late rally fell agonisingly short of delivering a title.
The Leon MacDonald-coached Mako again reached the decider in 2016 and 2017, only to be well beaten by Canterbury in both finals in Christchurch.
However, a year after bowing out to Canterbury in a home semifinal, the Mako will host Wellington in Nelson as they attempt to banish the playoff misery.
Should captain David Havili hold aloft the premiership trophy tomorrow, Tasman will also be the first to complete an unbeaten campaign since Auckland did so in 2007.
2. Wellington’s title drought
Standing in Tasman’s way is another desperately hungry team.
It has almost been two decades since the Lions snagged the last of their four titles in 2000, when Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga and Jonah Lomu helped edge Canterbury 34-29 at Lancaster Park. Let’s hope it’s more of a contest than the 45-8 flogging Tasman dished out in Blenheim in the opening round.
3. Three-peat for Canterbury
Not so long ago Auckland straight up owned the Farah Palmer Cup.
A staggering eight titles in as many years between 2007 and 2015 and the Storm were looking down their noses at the rest of the competition. Rapid growth in the women’s game followed, Counties Manukau ending Auckland’s run in 2016.
Led by outstanding halfback Kendra Cocksedge, it’s been all Canterbury since as they close in on a three-peat of titles.
Standing in their way is Auckland, a team Canterbury pasted 45-12 in round two without Cocksedge (Black Ferns rest week), but one which has got hot at just the right time.
4. The fight for promotion
A Battle of the Bays will decide who replaces Counties Manukau in the premiership next season.
The Magpies have twice won the championship – in 2011 and 2015 – only to be sent packing from the premiership the very next year after both promotions.
As for Bay of Plenty, they’ve been running around in the lower tier since being demoted in 2013.
Hawke’s Bay’s women’s team is also scrapping for promotion when they head to Dunedin to face the Otago Spirit in the Farah Palmer Cup championship final.
5. Seventh heaven for Wanganui?
The Butcher Boys and Meads Cup finals go hand in hand.
Six titles and four runners-up medals since the Heartland Championship was formed in 2006 says it all, and only North Otago can deny them a seventh crown.
They face another trip to Oamaru, where they toppled twotimes winners North Otago 27-22 less than a month ago.
Both North Otago’s titles – in 2007 and 2010 – were celebrated after beating Wanganui in the final.
West Coast will host South Canterbury in Greymouth in the first Lochore Cup final since Sir Brian Lochore died of cancer in August.