There’s still loads to play for in the NPC during these final few weeks with a number of quarter-final spots up for grabs in both the Odds and Evens Conferences.
We are well and truly into the business end of the NPC regular season with round nine being the penultimate gameweek before we reach the quarter-finals.
New Zealand’s premier domestic competition also throws up some absolute classics this weekend with old foes Canterbury and Auckland set to lock horns at the OrangeTheory Stadium on Friday while Saturday’s headline clash will see Wellington and Waikato lock horns in the capital.
Friday 23 September
Canterbury 1/5 | Draw 26/1 | Auckland 37/10 (09:05)
The big boys on the domestic scene will square off on Friday in a game that will have a massive bearing on the make-up of the quarter-final spots with Evens Conference leaders Canterbury currently 11 points ahead of Auckland.
The visitors managed to bounce back from their 30-15 defeat to Waikato by claiming a narrow 27-30 victory over Tasman this past weekend. They were pretty lucky to walk away with the victory, scoring a late try through flanker Blake Gibson.
Canterbury also had to fight hard for their victory against heavy underdogs Counties Manawatu. While Canterbury always had their opposition at arm’s length, they will be thankful for a late Dallas Mcleod try which ensured Counties’ late try of their own was merely a consolation.
The hosts are on a hot streak and can’t see that ending against an Auckland side that has blown extremely cold in recent weeks.
Saturday 24 September
Wellington 11/10 | Draw 25/1 | Waikato 74/100
Ranfurly Shield holders, Wellington defend the ‘Log ‘O Wood’ for the first time this week as they take on Waikato.
Wellington were made to work hard for their win with only one try scored in their 12-19 away triumph over Hawke’s Bay. While a number of ex-All Blacks were involved in the try, the star of the show was young gun Aiden Morgan whose four penalties and conversion were the difference between the sides.
Waikato were involved in a slugfest of their own last week, albeit one that involved more tries than the Wellington’s affair. They were on for a win with twelve minutes to go until they conceded two late tries, the last of which was a heartbreaking intercept from Otago’s Josh Timu.
This should be a cracker of a game with a number of All Black stars on show. My money is on Wellington edging a high-scoring affair.
Tips
Bay of Plenty Win to beat Hawke’s Bay @ 56/100
Tasman Win to beat Northland @ 9/20
Otago Win to beat Manawatu @1/12
North Harbour to beta Taranaki (betting tba)
Southland to beat Counties Manakau (betting tba)
