Round 7 of the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup season will get underway on Thursday the 19th of September. Darry previews all the round’s action below.
Canterbury v Manawatu
Thursday 19 September
Rugby League Park
09:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Canterbury 1/33
Draw 40/1
Manawatu 17/2
Canterbury will be looking to post their third consecutive win when they take on Ngani Laumape’s Manawatu.
The hosts were in fine fettle last week as they claimed yet another bonus point victory in downing Northland 12-42. This was the ‘Cantabs third bonus-point win in the space of three weeks, with the result seeing them move up to fourth spot on the logs.
Manawatu have also enjoyed a solid couple of weeks with the return of Hurricanes centre Ngane Laumape coinciding with a two-game winning streak for the Turbos.
Verdict: Canterbury
While Laumape is a force, the burly centre simply cannot take on Canterbury all by himself. My money is on the hosts bring the visitors back down to earth with a thumping result.
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Hawke’s Bay v Taranaki
Friday 20 September
McLean Park
09:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Hawke’s Bay 15/20
Draw 18/1
Taranaki 23/20
Hawke’s Bay will be looking to further extend their lead at the top of the Championship standings when they take on a Taranaki side that has suffered a dip in form of the past fortnight.
The hosts have maintained their unbeaten run last week as they notched up their fifth win of the season, beating Waikato 24-27 away from home. The victory has seen them pull seven points clear at the top of the Championship standings and a win on Friday would all but assure them of a home semi-final.
Taranaki had a much tougher time of it last weekend as they went down 17-31 to Bay of Plenty on home soil. That was the Bulls second defeat on the trot having gone down to Otago the week prior.
Verdict: Hawke’s Bay 15/20
This is great value here. The visitors are in freefall and should be no match for a strong Hawke’s Bay outfit.
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Waikato v Tasman
Saturday 21 September
FMG Stadium
04:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Waikato 17/4
Draw 30/1
Tasman 1/6
Tasman will be looking to make it seven wins from seven starts when they take on a Waikato side who will be desperate to pick up some points so as to keep their Premiership semi-final hopes have alive.
Tasman enjoyed yet another solid outing last weekend as they beat a determined Northland side 21-17. While it wasn’t the flashiest of showings from the Markos, they did show another side of their game by putting in a gritty performance against a fired-up Northland side, who were well ahead at the break.
Round 6 was tougher on Waikato as they suffered a shock three-point home defeat at the hands of Hawke’s Bay.
Verdict: Tasman 1/6
I’m expecting a better showing from Tasman here. I fully expect them to beat the handicap.
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Southland v Counties Manakau
Saturday 21 September
Rugby Park
07:05
To Win (80 Mins)
Southland 57/10
Draw 30/1
Counties 1/11
Southland will go in search of that elusive victory once again when they take on a Counties side who are looking to get off the foot of the Premiership table.
Both teams have enjoyed retched seasons with Southland winless and Counties with only one victory under their belts.
In terms of last weekend’s results, Southland blew a mammoth half-time lead to go down 26-31 to Manawatu while Counties lost 13-18 to reigning Premiership champions, Auckland.
Verdict: Southland 57/10
The smart play is the plus here as Southland seem determined not to keep their long-standing winning streak running. Call me a fool, but I will also be having a small play on the home win.
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North Harbour v Otago
Saturday 21 September
North Harbour
09:35
To Win (80 Mins)
North Harbour 2/9
Draw 25/1
Otago 33/10
North Harbour will be looking to build on their impressive display against Tasman when they take on an Otago side who sit four points off the foot of the Premiership table.
The hosts enjoyed one their best outing of the season last week as they went down by just four points to Premiership Champions-elect, Tasman.
Otago had a far worse time of it in Round 6 as they were heavily beaten 54-24 by a rampant Wellington outfit.
Verdict: Otago 33/10
I’ll be having a sneaky punt on the away side here. Northland have not impressed me this season and I think last week’s spirited display was a flash in the pan rather than an upturn in fortunes.
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Auckland v Wellington
Sunday 22 September
Eden Park
04:05
To Win (80 Mins)
Auckland 7/20
Draw 20/1
Wellington 22/10
Wellington will be looking to build on their impressive 30 point win over Northland when they take on reigning Premiership champions Auckland.
The hosts managed to notch up their third win of the campaign last weekend as they beat Counties 13-28. The victory was just the tonic Auckland needed as they went down by 10 points to Canterbury the weekend prior.
Verdict: Wellington 22/10
I rather fancy the upset here. Wellington looked great last week and if they can produce a similar display with ball-in-hand then they will give Auckland all sorts of problems.
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Northland v Bay of Plenty
Sunday 22 September
Semenoff Stadium
06:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Northland 17/4
Draw 25/1
Bay of Plenty 1/6
Championship rivals Northland and Bay of Plenty will close out Round 6 at the Semenoff Stadium.
Northland come into this one off the back of a thirty point defeat to Canterbury, which was their fifth consecutive defeat.
Bay of Plenty had a far more productive Round 6 as they registered a brilliant 17-31 bonus-point win over Taranaki.
Verdict: Bay of Plenty 1/6
I’m strong on the away team here and would take any handicap up to minus 15.
