Farah Palmer playoff spots in balance
With one week remaining, only three teams in the Farah Palmer Cup can relax. Counties Manukau and Canterbury are certain of a semi-final place in the Premiership, and Bay of Plenty have qualified for the Championship final
Published by John Birch, October 8th, 2017
3 minute read
It was a bit damp when Tasman took on North Harbour this weekend (Photo: Luz Zuniga/Stuff).
Counties Manukau wrapped up their semi-final spot with a big 43-13 win at Wellington. Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali scored three tries of Counties six tries.
Canterbury booked their place in the playoffs with a 31-20 win at Waikato. It is a defeat that means Waikato now have to beat Auckland away next weekend to retain their place in the Premiership. It is a sign of how close the league is that such a win could also qualify them for the semi-finals.
Auckland or Manawatu could also have wrapped up a semi-final spot last weekend, but they couldn't be separated in Palmerston North, scoring 15 points apiece. Auckland outscored Manawatu 3 tries to 2, but failed to hit the target with their conversions, allowing Elizabeth Goulden’s boot to tie the game up for Manawatu with her second half conversion of her own try.
Meanwhile, in the Championship, Bay of Plenty not only ensued a place in the final, but also locked up hosting rights, after they beat Otago 27-17 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Otago could meet them again in that final if they can beat North Harbour in a winner-takes-all final decider next weekend. North Harbour beat Tasman 25-12 in the wet in Nelson, and sit just one behind Otago.
Results
Wellington 13 (Kiri Mei, Angelica Uila tries; Acacia te Iwimate pen) Counties Manukau 43 (Leilani Perese, Justine Lavea, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali 3, Penalty try, tries; Hazel Tubic 4 con pen). HT: 5-22
Manawatu 15 (Ruci Malanicagi, Elizabeth Goulden tries; Goulden con, pen) Auckland 15 (Leanne Thompson, Aleisha Pearl Nelson, Charlene Gubb tries). HT: 8-10
Otago 17 (Julia Gorinsky, Annemieke van Vliet tries; Olivia Waldron con, pen; Sheree Hume con) Bay of Plenty 27 (Aryhan Clarke 2, Ora Williams 2, Ereti Williams tries; Chrstal Mayes con).
Tasman 12 (Jess Drummond, Jess Foster tries; Risi Pouri-Lane con) North Harbour 25 (Olivia Ward-Duin, Claudia McMeekin, Kate Williams, Laishon Jones tries; McMeekin con: Sophie Fisher pen).
Waikato 20 (Hanna Brough, Natalie Delamere, Chelsea Alley tries; Alley con; Calista Wihone pen) Canterbury 31 (Corinna Whiley 2, Kendra Cocksedge, Rebecca Todd, Nina Poletti tries; Cocksedge 3 con). HT: 8-19
Farah Palmer Cup Premiership
Team
Played
Win
Draw
Loss
For
Against
BP1
BP2
Points
Counties Manukau
5
4
0
1
240
64
5
1
27
Canterbury
6
5
0
1
202
119
4
0
24
Auckland
6
3
2
1
146
108
3
0
19
Manawatu
5
2
1
2
174
126
3
0
18
Wellington
6
3
0
3
163
143
4
1
17
Waikato
6
3
0
3
105
152
2
1
15
Farah Palmer Cup Championship
Team
Played
Win
Draw
Loss
For
Against
BP1
BP2
Points
Bay of Plenty
6
4
1
1
150
83
4
1
23
Otago
5
2
0
3
164
105
2
0
10
North Harbour
5
2
0
3
69
167
1
0
9
Hawkes Bay
5
0
0
5
45
210
0
0
0
Tasman
5
0
0
5
56
237
0
0
0
Next week’s fixtures:
Canterbury v WellingtonManawatu v Counties ManukauAuckland v WaikatoTasman v Hawkes BayNorth Harbour v Otago