Round 4 of the Mitre 10 Cup will get underway on Thursday the 29th of August. Darry Worthington previews all the action below.
Wellington v Counties Manakau
Thursday 29 August
Westpac Stadium
09:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Wellington 1/6
Draw 25/1
Counties 37/10
Wellington will be looking to build on their victory over Canterbury when they take on fellow Premiership side, Counties Manakau, in the Round 4 opener.
The hosts managed to register their first win of the season last weekend with their 23-22 victory over Canterbury following an opening-round loss to Tasman (45-8) and a 27-27 draw with Hawke’s Bay.
Counties had a far more difficult time of it in Round 3 as they went down 26-31 to a fired-up Waikato side. That was their second defeat of the season, with Counties only victory having come in Round 2 where they beat North Harbour 25-39.
Verdict: Wellington 1/6
The hosts should take this one but not by more than 15 points. If you’re offered a plus handicap in that region I would recommend backing it.
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Otago v Manawatu
Friday 30 August
Forsyth Barr
09:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Otago 1/8
Draw 25/1
Manawatu 5/1
A resurgent Otago side will be looking to further add to Mawatu’s woes when the two sides clash in Friday’s solitary fixture.
These two Championship sides have endured a tough start to the campaign with the visitors losing all three of their opening fixtures. Otago have fared slightly better with the hosts grabbing a vital 41-22 victory over Southland in Round 2. They were unable to follow that in Round 3, however, as they went down 29-21 to Hawke’s Bay.
Verdict: Otago 1/8
Manawatu have conceded a staggering 108 points in their opening three fixtures, and they offer just the tonic for Otago who will be determined to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat. My money is on the hosts win this one by more than 15 points.
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Canterbury v Southland
Saturday 31 August
Orangetheory Stadium
04:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Canterbury 1/100
Draw 30/1
Southland 23/1
Canterbury will be looking to put their miserable start to the season behind them when they take on variable cannon-fodder in the form of Championship cellar-dwellers, Southland.
The hosts suffered their third consecutive defeat this past weekend as they went down by just a solitary point to Wellington at the Westpac Stadium. Three defeats from the opening three rounds is unheard of in Canterbury and the men in red will be determined to put on a big show this Saturday.
Like Canterbury, Southland also head into this one off the back of three defeats, with the Stags lastest loss seeing them go down 12-33 to North Harbour.
Verdict: Canterbury 1/100
Things could get very messy for Southland as Canterbury will be determined to put a huge score on the board this Saturday. While I can see the first half being mildly competitive, the floodgates will open in the second stanza. I wouldn’t be afraid to law down a substantial amount of cash on Canterbury clearing a handicap in the mid-20s.
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Northland v Hawke’s Bay
Saturday 31 August
Semenoff Stadium
07:05
To Win (80 Mins)
Northland 5/2
Draw 20/1
Hawke’s Bay 3/10
Northland will be looking to move up the Championship standings when they take on Hawke’s Bay. The visitors have enjoyed a great start to the campaign winning all three of their opening matches, with their latest victory coming against over Otago (29-21). They currently sit a point off Championship pacesetters, Taranaki.
Conversely, Northland have endured a tough old start losing two of their three fixtures and come into this one off the back of a heavy 52-19 defeat to Taranaki.
Verdict: Hawke’s Bay 3/10
I fancy the away side here. They have produced some terrific rugby this term and should be able to get the job done against a limited Northland side.
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Waikato v Auckland
Saturday 31 August
FMG Stadium
09:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Waikato 33/20
Draw 20/1
Auckland 5/10
Arguably the pick of this weekend’s action will see Waikato take on Auckland at the FMG Stadium.
Both sides have enjoyed solid starts to the campaign and have yet to taste defeat with the duo drawing one game a piece and winning two.
In terms of last weekend’s results, Auckland beat Bay of Plenty 19-3 in a scrappy old affair, while Waikato edged Counties 26-31.
Verdict: Waikato 33/20
Auckland, for all their star backs, have failed to really fire. I think they may well struggle to outscore a Waikato attack who knows how to bag five-pointers.
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North Harbour v Bay of Plenty
Sunday 1 September
North Habour Stadium
04:05
To Win (80 Mins)
North Harbour 7/10
Draw 18/1
Bay of Plenty 5/4
North Harbour will be looking to claim back-to-back wins when they take on Championship outfit Bay of Plenty in Sunday’s opener.
The hosts have enjoyed a decent start to the season and have won one, drawn one and lost one, with their first win of the campaign coming last weekend when they downed Southland 12-33.
Bay of Plenty have been in slightly better touch with the Championship side winning two of their opening three fixtures. They tasted defeat for the first time this term last weekend as they went down by six points to reigning Premiership champions, Auckland.
Verdict: North Harbour 7/10
Last week’s solid win will have given North Habour a lot of confidence. I can see them making it two on the trot here.
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Taranaki v Tasman
Sunday 1 September
Yarrow Stadium
06:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Taranaki 17/4
Draw 25/1
Tasman 1/6
The round will close out with an absolute blockbuster as Championship leaders Taranaki will take on Premiership leaders Tasman.
Both these sides are undefeated with the hosts latest victory seeing them clobber Northland 52-19, while Tasman also impressed in Round 3 as they registered a mammoth 64-3 victory over strugglers Manawatu.
Verdict: Tasman 1/6
While both teams have been in great touch, Tasman have been a class apart. My money is on the visitors taking this one by more than 12 points.
