The Mitre 10 Cup was near the end for the 2018 season with the semi-finals taking place this weekend in both conferences. It was an opportunity for all the provinces still involved to book a place in the final in their respective group the weekend after that.
In Championship, Northland and Hawke’s Bay were facing tough assignments with away games respectively against Waikato and Otago. In Premiership, Auckland and Tasman had home advantage against Canterbury, the defending Champions, and Wellington.
About the Ranfurly Shield, Otago were playing at home but they were not going to defend it. The rule says that the Ranfurly Shield holders can only defend it when they are playing at home and during the regular season. The play-offs games are not included.
* The Championship Semi-Finals :
* Game 71 : Waikato vs. Northland (FMG Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand)
In an entertaining game, Northland ran the ball early and Sam Nock scored. Waikato hit back quickly with Samisoni Taukei’aho scoring the try. Shaun Gregory finished a stunning try for Northland who scored another one with Matt Wright after some move.
However, Sam Nock was binned and Waikato came back with Jack Stratton from close range and Sevu Reece in the corner. In the second-half, Sevu Reece had the space and got a brace. Fletcher Smith kicked a penalty before Sevu Reece got a Hat-Trick in this game.
It was an interception and the Hat-Trick became quadruple when Sevu Reece scored his fourth. James Tucker was binned for Waikato and Jono Kitto scored. Fletcher Smith kicked a penalty with Mitch Jacobson also binned but Waikato won the game (FT : 48-26).
* Game 72 : Otago vs. Hawke’s Bay (Forsyth Barr, Dunedin, New Zealand)
Hawke’s Bay ran the ball from everywhere on the field and they got the opening tries. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u scored after a big powerful maul. Just after that, scrum-half Brad Weber finished a great build-up. Otago scored a penalty kicked by Josh Ioane, later on.
At the beginning of the second-half, Otago scored the try with Mitchell Scott. Though, Hawke’s Bay were remaining in the contest and Mason Emerson managed to score. Otago needed to bounce back as centre Sio Tomkinson scored for the home province.
Towards the end of the game, Josh Ioane had a penalty but it was not powerful enough. On the last play, Hawke’s Bay were penalised and there was another opportunity. Josh Ioane kicked the resulting penalty and it was the end of the fixture after that (FT : 20-19).
* The Premiership Semi-Finals :
* Game 73 : Tasman vs. Canterbury (Trafalgar Park, Nelson, New Zealand)
In the first Mitre 10 Cup semi-final, in the Premiership, Canterbury managed to keep the ball and Brett Cameron kicked a penalty. Tasman were settled in defence and Mitch Hunt replied with a penalty. The home province started to go through the phases.
David Havili finished a great move after a few carries from the forwards. Just before Half-Time, Brett Cameron and Mitch Hunt traded one penalty. In the second-half, the two first-five eighths kicked another penalty again. After that, there were two turning points.
Mike Curry was binned for Tasman after an infringement allowing Mitchell Drummond to score after a scrum. Then, Will Jordan was also binned for a deliberate knock-on. Mitch Drummond gathered his chip-kick and scored a try for a stunning win (FT : 16-21).
* Game 74 : Auckland vs. Wellington (Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand)
Wellington scored the first try of the game with Wes Goosen finding the space on the left wing. Auckland replied immediately with Melani Nanai scoring after a good run from Akira Ioane. Fa’atiga Lemalu scored from close range for the second try for Auckland.
Jackson Garden-Bachop closed the gap with a penalty but Akira Ioane carried powerfully over the line with Harry Plummer adding a penalty. In the second-half, Wellington came back with Teariki Ben-Nicholas scoring. However, Akira Ioane grabbed a double, after.
Auckland had the momentum and they came back in the Wellington’s 22-metre zone. TJ Fa’iane had space on the midfield. Marco Fepulea’i concluded for another try. Wellington could not come back and Auckland got the win in an entertaining fixture (FT : 38-17).
* The Talking Points :
* Championship : Waikato will host Otago in the Championship Final. Waikato will try to get the win after the loss against the same province in the regular season. They had also lost the Ranfurly Shield so they will target the win to get the promotion in Premiership.
* Premiership : Auckland will play against Canterbury at Eden Park. The defending Champions will have a very tough game but they are still in the contest to keep their Title. It will be a very big contest with Auckland targeting the Trophy but it will be tough.
* Ranfurly Shield : Otago are still the holders of the Ranfurly Shield and they will keep it until the beginning of the 2019 season. They did not defend it because the Ranfurly Shield cannot be defended outside of the regular season games according to the laws.
Conclusion
The 2018 Mitre 10 Cup semi-finals were very entertaining with an away win for Canterbury, the defending Champions. They will have an opportunity to keep the Mitre 10 Cup for a fourth consecutive season and showing again how strong they just are.
About the Championship, there will be a big competition to get the promotion between Waikato and Otago. Taranaki will play in the Championship next season so either Waikato and Otago will have to get that ticket to book their place in the Premiership.
Surely, the two Finals will be very contested as there will not be much between the provinces involved. As showed by the semi-finals, all the provinces have got a decent chance to win the Trophy in their respective conference. It is going to be entertaining.
Max.
Rugby, Only Rugby ! 