NPC Div 1 - Final rounds

Semi Finals

Some big games left amongst the the contenders (home team first):
Auckland vs Ta$man
Counties vs Canterbury
Taranaki vs Auckland

Auckland with the hardest run in
Ta$man can make up the most ground
Waikato need a bit of luck with other results

Relegation

Waikato vs Hawkes Bay has become an important match after the Taniwha result. Waikato could get passed by HB in the final round if they drop this one

Technically Ta$man could still drop but they just need a couple of bonus points to be safe.

Auckland-Taranaki should probably be added to the big games among the contenders (I expect that's a typo).

Auckland has suddenly found some ominous form and I'm highly pessimistic about Ta$man's (who have managed to play well only in 30 minute bursts) chances against them. I think we're going to get humped.

Given the short turnarounds we have it wouldn't be entirely stupid to name a weakened team against them (i.e. rest Marty Banks) and target 10 points from the Harbour/Southland combo. That would give us 32 points, which is my target and I reckon will be enough to make the top 4. Counties would have to beat Canterbury to get past that and Taranaki would need at least a point from Auckland. Failures to rack up 4 try bonus points has been a bit of a killer - though on the plus side we've won a raft of close games.

In fact, Canterbury might struggle in the play-offs against Auckland on current form. I hope Hansen isn't going to make a farce of all that has gone before by releasing a slew of ABs to play in the play-offs.

Hadn't really considered that Hawkes Bay might still save themselves - but, if they beat Waikato then I'd rather play BoP than Wellington.

And..to round out my comments on NPC ....congratulations to Northland!

@Chris-B. said in NPC Div 1 - Final rounds:

Auckland-Taranaki should probably be added to the big games among the contenders (I expect that's a typo)

Yeah it was a typo. Thanks

@Duluth said in NPC Div 1 - Final rounds:

Auckland with the hardest run in

Actually looking at this again... the Taranaki run in is just as hard as Aucklands. Wellington is in good form now

The losses to Waikato and Counties could cost us. Hopefully that Otago performance will kickstart our season.

Canterbury will finish first
Hawkes Bay will be relegated

Matches involving the semi final contenders

You'd expect Ta$man to beat North Harbour and Southland
Waikato fans will be happy that Wellingtons form has dropped off so much

I'll be cheering for Naki over Auckland by the look of things.

@Crucial

and Wellington over Waikato (assuming Counties doesn't beat Canterbury)

@Duluth said in NPC Div 1 - Final rounds:

@Crucial

and Wellington over Waikato (assuming Counties doesn't beat Canterbury)

Touch wood, I can't see Waikato getting 5 pts off Welly and if they get 4 we should still beat them on count back

What are the count back rules again? I saw someone post them a while back.

@Crucial

I think its points difference? Couldn't find it on the NPC website though

Found it....

the winner of the round robin match between the two provinces
highest overall points difference
highest number of tries scored
highest number of points scored
a coin toss

CM beat both Waikato and Auck (although very unlikely a tie break will be needed against Auck). Lost to Ta$man (again unlikely tie break required)

CMs first option is to win, then just to pick up Bps, then to hope for Naki to beat Auck and Auck to get a max of 1 point.

I see last place going to CM or Auck. Waikato an outsider.

If CM take fourth place they will play Canterbury again

@Crucial said in NPC Div 1 - Final rounds:

@Duluth said in NPC Div 1 - Final rounds:

@Crucial

and Wellington over Waikato (assuming Counties doesn't beat Canterbury)

Touch wood, I can't see Waikato getting 5 pts off Welly and if they get 4 we should still beat them on count back

What are the count back rules again? I saw someone post them a while back.

Posted on the ITM Cup website last year:

Tie break rules:
In case two teams are tied on competition points after round robin, here's what happens:
i) The winner of the round robin match between the two sides has the higher position
ii) If they didn't play a round robin match, then it goes to points difference  

If three (or more) teams are tied on competition points, here's what happens:
i) The team that has earned the most competition points against the other teams has the higher position
ii) If there's still a tie, it goes to points difference

Should teams still be tied after looking at previous results and points difference, then here's how the tie gets broken:
i) The team with the most tries across the competition has the higher position
ii) If tries scored across the competition is the same,  then the team with the most points goes ahead
 
And if that doesn't work: it comes down to the toss of a coin!

@Duluth said in NPC Div 1 - Final rounds:

You'd expect Ta$man to beat North Harbour and Southland
Waikato fans will be happy that Wellingtons form has dropped off so much

Wouldn't want to take anything for granted in this competition, but I'm pretty hopeful of Ta$man winning those two games (Harbour has been a problem team for us in the past). Getting a bonus point from both is really the key - if we pick up 10 points then we get a home semi.

@Chris-B. said in NPC Div 1 - Final rounds:

@Duluth said in NPC Div 1 - Final rounds:

You'd expect Ta$man to beat North Harbour and Southland
Waikato fans will be happy that Wellingtons form has dropped off so much

Wouldn't want to take anything for granted in this competition, but I'm pretty hopeful of Ta$man winning those two games (Harbour has been a problem team for us in the past). Getting a bonus point from both is really the key - if we pick up 10 points then we get a home semi.

Well you were right about Harbour. No 10 points now

Just realised CM have a sniff at at home semi now.
Slightly less unlikely than before.

This Auckland/Naki game has the hallmarks of being a real spoiler. Lots of tries, close game.

Come on Naki!

Naki get their fourth try and one more point on the table.

Now Auckland get their fourth. 1 more point on the table and the lead in the match.

Fucken Naki. That loss at the death to them in round 5 is coming back at us like a bad kebab.

Yes. On the death stroke. (always had faith in you Naki )

Apologies if these last posts should have been on a match thread but I couldn't find it and the outcome of this match had a big bearing on standings.

Auckland out of the playoffs.... hahahahahaha