Semi-finalists found in Championship rugby

After several weeks of hard-fought rugby up and down New Zealand, the 16 semi-finalists have been found in the ITM Cup and Heartland Championship competitions.

Semi-finals will take place next weekend, on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October.

In the ITM Cup Premiership, top qualifiers Canterbury will host fourth placed Taranaki at Rugby Park on Saturday evening. 

This will be a replay of their encounter a fortnight ago that saw Taranaki win 24-21 and earn its first victory in Christchurch since 1963. If they can repeat the dost then they’ll face the winner of the Auckland – Tasman encounter at Eden Park on Friday night.

Auckland got up to secure second place with their 31-16 last round victory over Counties Manukau.

Hawke’s Bay lost the Ranfurly Shield to Waikato in their last defence of the season and would have lost their grip on the top spot had Wellington beaten Premiership cellar-dwellers Manawatu on Saturday. But the Lions lost 33-39, meaning Hawke’s Bay will host fourth placed Bay of Plenty in Napier on Saturday afternoon and Wellington will host Otago at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night.

The Heartland Championship is now split between the top four Meads Cup and places 5-8 Lochore Cup divisions.

South Canterbury emerged as top qualifiers and they will host fourth placed Wairarapa Bush in one Meads Cup semi-final, despite Wairarapa Bush losing 35-57 to Wanganui. But Wairarapa-Bush have qualified ahead of rivals Horowhenua-Kapiti who were upset 31-44 by Buller at home in Levin.

Mid Canterbury pipped North Otago 39-36 in their last round match, and they will stay in the South Island to host Wanganui in the other Meads Cup playoff match.

Horowhenua Kapiti will play North Otago in Levin and Buller will square off against King Country in the other Lochore Cup playoff match.

The Women’s NPC final will be between top qualifiers Auckland and Wellington, after Auckland defeated Waikato 38-12 in one semi-final and Wellington defeated Counties Manukau 29-23.

The Women’s final is in Napier at 12 noon, and is the curtain-raiser to the Championship semi-final between Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty.

Playoff matches at a glance:

• Friday 7.35pm Premiership semi-final. Auckland v Tasman at Eden Park
• Saturday 12.00pm Women’s final. Auckland v Wellington at Napier
• Saturday 2.35pm Championship semi-final. Hawke’s Bay v Bay of Plenty at Napier
• Saturday 5.05pm Premiership semi-final. Canterbury v Taranaki at Christchurch
• Saturday 7.35pm Championship semi-final. Wellington v Otago at Wellington