Thames Valley the rugby kings
Following the unexpected meltdown of Wanganui in the semi-finals and South Canterbury in the final Thames Valley has taken over as the kings of New Zealand Heartland rugby.
In claiming a first Meads Cup championship the Swamp Foxes lived up to the name of their sponsors Gold Ridge to claim a set of gold medals by outsmarting South Canterbury 17-12 in a thrilling final in Timaru last weekend.
To beat unbeaten top qualifiers Steelform Wanganui 17-7 and No 2 ranked South Canterbury at away venues on successive weekends and win the championship from the No 4 qualifying position is a rare feat.
It has only happened twice in the Meads Cup, Wanganui achieving it last season and now Thames Valley this year.
Wanganui in 2016 and Wairarapa-Bush in 2010 won both away semis and finals in the Lochore Cup.
To complete the play-offs double in a first ever appearance in the Top Four in 13 seasons of the Heartland championship was a superb effort from the welldrilled Swamp Foxes who went out as the underdogs at both Cooks Gardens and in Timaru.
There was no luck involved in beating Wanganui for the first time in nine Heartland clashes and in scoring a rare win at Timaru. Both victories were well deserved.
Apart from Wanganui, South Canterbury has been the most consistent team in the Mitre 10-sponsored national championship over the past four years but the green and blacks suffered a fourth successive knock-back at home when it came to the cut-throat play-offs.
Wanganui had beaten South Canterbury, the top qualifiers, 28-11 in the 2015 final and 29-24 in the 2017 semi-finals, both in Timaru. The southern also reached the 2016 semis at home only to lose 16-6 to Buller and now Thames Valley has foiled the union’s title hopes.
After sailing through the eight 2018 qualifying rounds unbeaten Wanganui looked set for a possible four-peat of championship honours.
But that dream was shattered by a determined Swamp Foxes side a who axed the lethargic Butcher Boys before 1300 shocked Wanganui supporters a fortnight ago.
It was the 11th time in 13 years that Wanganui had qualified for the Meads play-offs, the fifth as top qualifiers, and it was to be a first-ever semi-finals defeat.
There was also disappointment for the Timaru faithful who had high hopes of a first Meads Cup title after their team had beaten Valley 33-24 earlier in the month in the final qualifying round.
The Swamp Foxes upset all predictions and have shot up from No 9 ranking last season to No 1. The previous highest placing was 6th in 2010.
The Te Kuiti-based King Country Rams also had a successful season to make the Meads play offs for a first time, beating the 2015 effort by a spot. King Country, eliminated 50-21 by South Canterbury in the semis, jumped from No 10 last year to No 4.
Thames Valley now has its name on the Meads Cup alongside Wanganui (2008-09-11-15-16-17), North Otago (2007-10), Mid Canterbury (2013-14), East Coast (2012) and Wairarapa-Bush (2006).
The Swamp Foxes now automatically qualify for a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Otago next season.
After finishing runners-up to Wanganui in the 2017 Meads final Horowhenua-Ka¯ piti struck gold in a second successive Heartland final at Levin with a close 26-23 win over WairarapaBush in the Lochore Cup final last weekend.
Horowhenua may have dropped from No 2 to No 5 overall ranking but winning the Lochore Cup and a Heartland title for a first time. and in the union’s 125th jubilee year, was a great way to round off the season.
Horowhenua had beaten Wairarapa, the 2010 title holders, 37-21 during the qualifying rounds.
It was an eighth national championship final for Horowhenua teams with the only previous success coming 25 years ago at Spriggens Park with a surprise 15-9 win over Wanganui in the 1993 NPC Div 3 final.
Wanganui had won 39-17 in a qualifying round fixture at Levin but Horowhenua, in its centenary year, turned the tables in the final with former Wanganui rep Jimmy Barker scoring for the visitors.
The Butcher Boys, coached by John Transom, who had earlier paraded up Victoria Ave on a float to help promote the final, included Jason Caskey and Jason Hamllin.
A quarter of a century later the two Jasons, now coaches, were involved with another topranked Wanganui side that suffered a surprise defeat — against Thames Valley.
Former Wanganui Meads Cup medal winners, centre Timoci Seruwalu (last season) and replacement halfback Kane Tamou (2015-16) were in the winning Horowhenua-Ka¯ piti team last Sunday.
Now Horowhenua-Ka¯ piti joins Poverty Bay (2006-07-08-11), King Country (2015), North Otago (2009-16), Wanganui (2014), Mid Canterbury (2017), South Canterbury (2013), Buller (2012) and Wairarapa-Bush (2010) as holders of the Lochore Cup.
Prior to the national championship play-offs there was mention from a South Island commentator of the distinct possibility of a southern clean sweep of all of the men’s Mitre 10-sponsored titles with Canterbury seeking a 10th premier title in 11 years, Ranfurly Shield holders Otago in the championship (second tier) final, South Canterbury in the Meads Cup and North Otago and Mid Canterbury in the Lochore Cup.
But out went North Otago (21-30 to Wairarapa-Bush) and Mid Canterbury (24-34 to Horowhenua Ka¯ piti) in the Lochore Cup semis after winning away qualifying matches against the same unions.
In finals Otago lost 13-36 away to Waikato, who they had earlier beaten 23-19 to lift “The Log”, Auckland claimed a first premier title since 2007 with a fine 40-33 win to de-throne Canterbury, and Thames Valley avenged an earlier 24-33 loss in Timaru to win the Meads Cup 17-12.
The up-shot was that North Island unions scooped all Mitre 10 men’s titles, including both Heartland trophies going to first time winners, for the first time since 2006 when Waikato, Wairarapa-Bush and Poverty Bay were successful.
The last South Island clean sweep was in 2013 per medium of Canterbury, Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury.
The South Island, however, can claim the women’s premier honours with Canterbury beating Counties 59-29 in the Farah Palmer Cup final. Wellington beat Otago 55-5 in the second-tier final.
Heartland Summary
The following is a round-up of the 2018 Mitre 10 Heartland unions —
Meads Cup
Thames Valley 1st (Won 7, Lost 3, Pts for 308, Ag 252, tries for 44, Ag 33) — Best effort by a the union in national competitions. Previous highest ranking 6th in 2010. Placed 9th or worst in Heartland series nine times. Won three of the old NPC Div 3 titles. Three qualifying defeats were 25-27 v West Coast on opening day and 29-37 v King Country at home and 24-31 away v South Canterbury. Fielded a strong forward unit. Top points scorer: Reece Broughton 85 pts. Most tries: Sam McCahon, Keiran Lee 6, Harry Lafituanai, Brett Ranga 4. NZ Heartland reps: Alex Bradley (No 8), Shaun Hill (2nd 5), Glen McIntyre (hooker), Brett Ranga (LF).
South Canterbury 2nd (Won 7, Lost 3, Pts for 411, Ag 228. Tries for 62, Ag 26 — Scored the most points and tries thanks to a 100-7 (16 tries) win over East Coast. Beaten away by Wanganui 21-10 (opening day) and WairarapaBush 27-24 and by Thames Valley 17-12 in final. Sound forwards and enterprising backs but again failed at home in play-offs. Top points scorer: Willie Wright 99 pts. Most tries: Kalavini Leatigaga 9, Setefano Sauqaqa 7, Loni Tuomohuni 5, Rico Syme, Garret Casey, Nick Strachan 4..NZ Heartland reps: Veikoso Poloniati (lock), Nick Strachan (No 8), William Wright (halfback).
Wanganui 3rd (Won 8, Lost 1, Pts for 338, Ag 235, tries for 48, Ag 18) — The union’s lowest placing in the Meads Cup and the third lowest overall ranking in 13 seasons of Heartland Rugby. Lowest placings were 7th in 2013 and 5th in 2014. Top qualifiers with unbeaten record. First time in reaching 10 Meads Cup playoffs that did not contest the final. Untroubled in eight qualifying matches but deservedly beaten 17-7 by Thames Valley in home semi-final. Top points scorer — Craig Clare 117 pts. Most tries — Clare, Tyler Rogers-Holden 5, Viki Tofa, Kaveni Dabenaise 4. NZ Heartland reps: Clare (1st/ FB), Campbell Hart (LF), Cameron Crowley (Wing), Peni Nabainivalu (Mid Field).
King Country 4th (Won 6, Lost 3, Pts for 321, Ag 291, tries for 46, Ag 40) — First time into Meads semis but out-classed 58-21 away by South Canterbury. Best win 37-29 v Thames Valley at Te Aroha. Previous highest placing was 5th in 2015 when winning the Lochore Cup. Most points — Evaans Reihana 99. Most tries — Alex Thrupp 9, Dean Church 6, Declan Barnett , Christian Mabbett-Sowerby 4. Fine effort to climb from 10th to 4th ranking in a season. NZ Heartland reps: Thrupp (Centre), Church (Wing), Carl Carmichael (Prop)
Lochore Cup Horowhenua-Kapiti 1st 5th overall (Won 6, Lost 4. Pts for 313, Ag 298. Tries for 38, Ag 41) — A good all round set of forwards and an accurate loan goal-kicker in Tawa first five James So’oialo who edged out Wanganui’s Craig Clare by 3 pts for the overall top points. Side finished with 15 more points for than against and conceded three more tries than the team scored. Key wins were 36-30 over King Country at Paraparaumu, 34-24 v Mid Canterbury in semis and a come from behind 26-23 finals victory over Wairarapa-Bush. Lost Bruce Steel Memorial Cup to Wanganui 27-57 and also lost qualifying round games to Mid Canterbury 24-30, South Canterbury 29-52 and to Thames Valley 27-29. Most Points: So’oialo 120. Most tries: Willie Paia’aua, Timoci Seruwalu 6, Aaron Lahmert 4. NZ Heartland reps: Scott Cameron (prop), Aaron Lahmert (LF).
Wairarapa-Bush 4th 6th overall (Won 5, Lost 5. Pts for 269, Ag 242. Tries for 34, Ag 33) — Big improvement from 11th to 6th place overall. Main scalps were 27-24 over South Canterbury and a 30-21 semi-finals win over North Otago to turn around a 24-0 loss to the same side a week earlier. Top points scorer: Glenn Walters 90 pts. Most tries: Soli Malatai 7, Sam Gammie 6. Mike Lealeau’a 4. NZ Heartland rep: James Goodyer (LF).
North Otago 3rd 7th overall (Won 4, Lost 5. Pts for 231, Ag 239. Tries for 25, Ag 22) — Finished with the same ranking as last year. Mixed season with best effort 24-0 v Wairarapa-Bush in Masterton but beaten 30-21 at the same ground a week later in the semis. Held Horowhenua to 24-27 in Oamaru. Top points scorer Josh Buchan 89. Most tries — Simon Lilicama, Junior Fakatoufifita 4. NZ Heartland reps: Lilicama (Wing), Ralph Darling (Prop), Meli Koliinisau (Prop).
Mid Canterbury 4th 8th overall (Won 3, Lost 6. Pts for 249, Ag 267. Tries for 36, Ag 38) — Lowest ever Heartland placing. Only win of note 30-24 v Horowhenua at Foxton on opening day but beaten 34-24 in Levin semi-final. Top points scorer: Brian Motormusha 45. Most tries: Motormusha 9, Dan Fransen 7, Seta Koroitamana 4. NZ Heartlannd rep: Koroitamana (LF).
Non qualifiers
West Coast 9th (Won 4, Lost 4. Penalised 6 pts for playing illegal player). Drop from 6th last year when second in Lochore Cup. Pts for 228, Ag 241. Tries for 35, Ag 34. Best win 27-25 v Thames Valley at Paeroa on opening day. Top point scorer: Tom Reekie 53. Most tries: Regan Stanton 6, Amenia Tanetukana, Sean McClure 4. NZ Heartland rep: Sione Holani (Mid Field).
Buller 10th, down six placings. (Won 2, Lost 6. Pts for 223, Ag 289. Tries for 31, Ag 41). Top points scorer: Michael Wells
51. Most tries: Robbie Malneek, Iliesa Ravudra 5, Anthony Tailua
4. After six losses, three by less than 7pts, won last two qualifying games. NZ Heartland reps: Andrew Stephens (Halfback) and James Lash (1st 5).
Poverty Bay 11th, dropped three placings. (Won 2, Lost 6. Pts for 193, Ag 302. Tries for 27, Ag 44.) Top points scorer: Andrew Tauatevaku 48. Most tries: Te Peehi Fairlie 6, Tom Isosefo, Junior Petelo 4. No NZ Heartland reps.
East Coast 12th for fifth successive season (8 losses. Pts for 99, Ag 447. Tries for 15, Ag 67). Top points scorer: Ngarangi Harewa 23. Most tries: Epeli Lotawa 3. Closest defeat was 19-26 at home against Poverty Bay. No NZ Heartland reps.