2014 – ITM CUP - NZ's 3rd Tier Competition

[2bluesfan]

I know Wellington have had a bad run of injuries but fuck me this is embarrassing. YC 13 Black just to cap things off.

They are certainly having a season they'd like to forget.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Match reports here:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/sport/10494140/Manawatu-stay-top-despite-loss-to-Harbour

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/10494300/Rampant-Canterbury-tear-Wellington-apart

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Auks only turn up for the 2nd half again:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/10496156/Auckland-come-from-behind-to-beat-BOP

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

The 'nua machine rolls on, 19-17 v West Coast in Greymouth, takes them to 2nd equal but 4th on points differential, hope their lack of bonus points (1 from 4 games) doesn't come back to bite their arse.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/10496284/Buller-leapfrog-South-Canterbury-to-go-top

 

[Hugh Jarse]

See-Saw match in Southland before Stags get some meat against the Northland Taniwha (Tom Murday) after the siren to tie the game up at 34 all.

Sopoaga nails the conversion to give the chocolates to Southland 36 - Northland 34.

They'll be dancing in the streets of Invercargill tonight.

Fancy pants jumper from the Stags. One for @Lord Logo's collection?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Loco goes over in the corner after the siren, 34-all & Sopoaga with the chance to win it for Southland..... NEVER LOOKED LIKE MISSING! Northland will be gutted, came from behind to take the lead twice that I saw, incl when down to 14. They pick up 2 BP, though & Southland a 4-try BP.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Waikato 26-21 v Counties-Manukau & pick up 5 comp points.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11324526

Ranfurly Shield up next, Hawkes Bay defending v Otago who've already had an unsuccessful challenge this year. They're currently 4th equal in the Championship but the Bay have a game in hand.

Early try in the corner for the Bay, West's kick goes astray (57% success rate! he'll need to get that a lot higher if he's gonna challenge for higher honours), 5-0. Fuck me, Tongia's in again! opposite corner. West gets this one, 12-0 & Otago must be wondering wtf is going on.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Try #3 & converted, 19-0 inside 10 minutes. All 3 have been from long range, Otago well ahead territory-wise but guilty of coughing up possession & obviously some shithouse D.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

More shithouse D & the Bay have a BP with another one from 60m out. West adds the extras, 26-0. Otago will have the wind in the 2nd 40 but this ain't a 30-point wind. Gonna be a long flight back to Dunners, I feel.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Buckman canters in from his own 10m line, movement actually started near the 22. West astray again, 31-0.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

West takes an easy but unnecessary 3, 34-0 with 30ish to go.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Took them a while but HB get try #6, West converts, 41-0.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Full time. Otago's first "down trou" since 1983. Shield safe until at least next Saturday when BofP get a shot at it.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11324547

HB now just 1 point off joint Championship leaders Manawatu & Northland but with a game in hand. Cantabs well out in front in the Premiership, only unbeaten team in either div. Full tables here:

www.stuff.co.nz/sport/scoreboard/9797173/Rugby-Scoreboard

 

[Dctarget]

How's Jason Woodward going?


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[Dan54]

Woodward been going pretty average Dc, though I never been a great fan of his so I be being a little harsh. He actually just got a week suspension for throwing a punch!

 

[qwerty51]

Average would be putting it nicely! He's part of the whole systematic fuck up of Wellington atm.

 

[Dctarget]

So Rebels aren't too sore from losing him then


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[Hugh Jarse]

Wellington have been pretty ordinary haven't they. What is going on there? Is it coaching or cattle or a combination?

Is this a flow on from a rather ordinary 2014 Hurricanes performance?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Meanwhile in ITM Cup news that actually matters, Tasman are giving Southland a hiding, 31-7 going into the last 15. Make that 36-7, try in the corner so Banks unlikely to add the extras.

EDIT: Banks must've nailed it, 38-14 final score.

www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/10511777/Tasman-too-slick-in-dominant-win-over-Stags

 

[Dan54]

Wellington have been pretty ordinary haven't they. What is going on there? Is it coaching or cattle or a combination?

Is this a flow on from a rather ordinary 2014 Hurricanes performance?

Was watching NZ rugby show last week HJ, and Jeff Wilson seems to think one of Wellington's problems ,apart from injuries, is that Chris Boyd is taking over Canes, and before ITM started he was too busy with that to put in time with Wellington, especially with a few player falling over, and the feeling is with quick turnarounds etc if you not set up properly before season starts it pretty hard to correct things!