The National Provincial Championship enters its third week this coming Friday and there are some cracking ties in-store including the Battle of the Bridge derby between North Harbor and Auckland while Waikato and Tarankai square off in what should be a belter of a fixture.
Friday 18 August
Counties Manukau 9/4 | Draw 22/1 | Bay of Plenty 36/100
We kick things off at Navigation Homes Stadium where hosts Counties Manukau will go in search of their first points of the season when they take on Bay of Plenty.
Counties have actually given a decent account of themselves despite losing their two opening games. They ran a solid Taranaki side close in Round one just missing out on a losing bonus point as they went down 37-29. They were even closer to recording a win this past weekend with a 81-st minute converted try seeing them go down 24-25 to Hawke’s Bay.
Bay of Plenty have enjoyed a more positive start to their campaign with the Steamers bouncing back from their opening weekend 30-32 defeat to Acukland by beating Waikato 19-15 in an absolute slug fest this past Saturday.
Bay are playing some solid rugby at the moment and I can see them bagging their second win of the season this Friday.
Verdict: Bay of Plenty
Saturday 19 August
North Harbour 14/10 | Draw 20/1 | Auckland 62/100
It’s the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ next up with Auckland making the short trip to Onewa Domain to take on local rivals North Harbour. Both sides are loaded with Blues squad members and these games tend to be festy old affairs for just that reason.
The hosts are yet to win a game this term but have given a sold account of themselves during the opening two weeks with a late penalty seeing them go down 23-21 away to Hawke’s Bay in Round 1, while they gave a very good Canterbury side a real run last weekend going down 24-28 with only a 76th-minute Canterbury try being the difference between the side.s
Auckland have enjoyed a slightly better start to their campaign than their local rivals with a late try from a rolling maul seeing them prevail 30-32 over Bay of Plenty in Round 1. They struggled in Round 2, however, and couldn’t get their attack going as they went down 24-12 to a Tasman side, who in fairness look like they could well claim the title this term.
I thought they were really good against Canterbury and if they can sort out some of their defensive issues, they could well claim derby bragging rights.
Verdict: North Harbor
Wellington 1/25 | Draw 45/1 | Southland 9/1
It’s over to the capital for our next installment which will see a stacked Wellington side take on plucky Southland.
Wellington’s finest turned it up a notch last week with their attack far more fluid than during their Round 1 6-22 win over Manawatu. And while they didn’t score that many more points against Otago in Round 2, they looked far more comfortable with ball-in-hand as they notched up a 5-28 win.
While their opponents for Saturday have gone two from two, the Southland Stags are yet to win a game going down 21-29 to Waikato in Round 1 and then drawing 15-15 with Northland in Round 2. While they haven’t got a win under their belts, this squad does look less like whipping boys than Southland previous vintages.
I’ve actually been rather surprised with how dogged Wellington’s defence has been so far this season. I can see them suffocating the Stags here and that should see them to a big win.
Verdict: Wellington
Canterbury 1/50 | Draw 50/1 | Manuwatu 11/1
We head from Wellington to Canterbury for our next fixture which will see unbeaten Canterbury take on winless Manawatu.
Having cantered to a 11-43 victory over Northland in Round 1, Canterbury were given a far sterner test in Round 2 as they were run close by an impressive North Harbor outfit. They managed to get over the line against the side from Auckland but were made to wait with a 76th-minute try being the difference between the two sides.
While Canterbury have managed to bag two wins, Manawatu haven’t come close to tasting victory going down 6-22 to Wellington in Round 1 and then 17-26 to Taranaki. They did look better on attack against Taranaki but they still struggled defensively.
I can only see one outcome here and that’s a big Canterbury win.
Verdict: Canterbury
Northland 46/10 | Draw 30/1 | Tasman 1/6
Saturday’s final fixture will see winless Northland take on high-flying Tasman. The hosts have struggled thus far shipping 48 points in their opening two games while scoring just 26. And while they did manage to claim a draw against Southland last weekend, it’s hardly a result to write home about as the Stags are the tournament’s perennial whipping boys.
While Northland have struggled during the opening two weeks, Tamsna have had no such issues registering wins over Otago (27-15) and Auckland (24-12). Their backline has looked very tidy, particularly their midfield which has been racking up metres for fun.
This could get ugly for Northland here. Tasman have hardly gotten out of second gear and have been cantering to victories. I can see them turning things up a notch this weekend and claiming a big win here.
Verdict: Tasman
Sunday 20 August
Hawke’s Bay v Otago
Odds TBA*
Our penultimate game of the weekend will see Hawke’s Bay take on Otago at McLean Park. The hosts currently sit second on the ladder having won their three opening games. They come into this one off the back of a solid midweek victory that saw them stage a dramatic comeback to beat Waikato 35-32.
Otago have struggled this far and sit at the foot of the ladder after two heavy defeats going down 27-15 to Tasman in Round 1 and then 5-28 to Wellington in Round 2. They have struggled on attack and will need to be far more clinical if they are to stop Hawke’s Bay making it four wins from four starts.
They’re in solid form and know how to win having already pulled off some brilliant come from behind victories. My money is on the hosts taking the spoils here.
Verdict: Hawke’s Bay
Waikato v Taranaki
Odds TBA*
The round comes to a close at the FMG Stadium where current table-toppers Taranaki will take on Waikato.
The visitors have impressed in the first fortnight of the tournament claiming three bonus point wins with their victories coming over Counties Manukau (37-29), Northland (13-28) and Manawatu (17-26). They’ve also managed to keep their dominant form going despite rotating their squad due to playing a midweek fixture.
Waikato have found the going tougher in the opening rounds with ths weekend’s starting their campaign with an unconvincing 21-29 win over Southland before going down 19-15 to Bay of Plenty and then 35-21 to Hawke’s Bay. The last result would have been the most disappointing of the two defeats with Waikato fully in charge of the fixture at half-time.
The Bulls look a solid side this term while Waikato are struggling. My money is on Taranaki making it four from four this Sunday.
Verdict: Taranaki
