Farah Palmer Cup 2020

[Gunner]

@Stargazer that’s it. What a beauty!

[voodoo]

@Gunner solid, but had nothing on Richard Bands running over Carlos though!

[Bovidae]

This game is the curtain-raiser to the test match.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae That's a top of the table clash in pool North of the FPC. Probably the best FPC game of the weekend.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer And the winner to avoid Canterbury in the semi. Northland and CM will be cheering for Waikato.

[mikedogz]

Counties now second on points differential after beating Taranaki 107 to 3, wanting Waikato to beat Auckland and Auckland not getting a bonus point.

[Bovidae]

@mikedogz said in Farah Palmer Cup 2020:

Counties now second on points differential after beating Taranaki 107 to 3, wanting Waikato to beat Auckland and Auckland not getting a bonus point.

Northland are now second after their 32-0 win over BOP but Auckland advances.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/123089540/farah-palmer-cup-counties-manukau-put-on-century-but-miss-out-on-semifinals

[mikedogz]

I thoughts points diff was the tie breaker, stink.

[Stargazer]

From the 2020 Competitions Regulations Handbook:

[Stargazer]

Results of the last round robin matches:

Hawke's Bay 12 (Michaela Baker, Amelia Pasikala tries; Krysten Cottrell con)
Manawatu 29 (Selica Winiata, Rangimarie Sturmey, Kalyn Takitimu-Cook, Carys Dallinger, Kaia-Hayes Walker-Waitoa tries; Winiata 2 con).
HT: 5-19

Canterbury 84 (Kendra Cocksedge, Cindy Nelles, Lucy Jenkins 2, Alana Bremner 2, Angie Sisifa , Liv McGoverne 2, Matha Lolohea 4, Rebecca Todd tries; Cocksedge 2 con; McGoverne 4 con)
Ta$man 0.
HT: 39-0.

Bay of Plenty 0
Northland 32 (Alisha Proctor, Portia Woodman, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Krystal Murray, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate tries; Timara Leaf con, pen; Murray con).
HT: 0-15

Taranaki 3 (Chloe Sampson pen)
Counties Manukau 107 (Harono Te Iringa, Lanulangi Veainu, Grace Gago 3, Aotearoa Matau 2, Amiria Te Iringa, Shyanne Thompson 2, Ilisapeti Molia 2, Ruby Tui 2, Glory Aiono, Larissa Lima, Temira Mataroa; Hazel Tubic 11 con).
HT: 3-50

Wellington 27 (Kolora Lomani 2, Monica Tagoai tries; Thamsyn Newton 3 con, 2 pen)
Otago 24 (Amy du Plessis, Teilah Ferguson, Kiana Wereta tries, Penalty try, Rosie Kelly con).
HT: 14-12

Auckland 17 (Sylvia Brunt, Patricia Maliepo, tries; Maliepo 2 con, pen)
Waikato 26 (Mia Anderson, 2, Renee Holmes, Toka Natua tries; Chelsea Alley 3 con).
HT: 3-19

Standings after the round robin:

SEMI-FINALS

Semifinal 1: Canterbury v Auckland, Saturday 24 October, 4.35pm, Rugby Park

Semifinal 2: Waikato v Manawatu, Sunday 25 October, 2.05pm, FMG Stadium Waikato

*Both games will be live on Sky Sport NZ

[Bovidae]

Semifinal 2: Waikato v Manawatu, Sunday 25 October, 2.05pm, FMG Stadium Waikato

So the curtain raiser to the Waikato-Taranaki game. I'll try to get along earlier to watch.

[Gunner]

It’s almost a shame that there wasn’t a
Premier/Championship split this year as I’m sure Northland would have won the Championship at a canter.

Surely if they go back to that model again next year they base it on this years rankings?

[Stargazer]

@Gunner This year was different in more than one way, because of Covid.

There was the lopsided North-South format, but also some teams having a huge advantage because of the addition of one or more Black Ferns 7s players to their squad, while others didn't get any. That's why I think it would be much fairer if they used last years rankings for next year's draw.

Last year, it was Otago that deservedly won the Championship, while Manawatu got relegated. (Northland finished fourth, by the way).

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

[Bovidae]

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

So it's a Canterbury v Waikato Final! Day, time and venue TBC.

[Stargazer]

Final, date, time and venue confirmed.

[Bovidae]

The criteria to decide who hosts the final is BS. Average competition points per game will obviously favour Canterbury as they played in the weaker Southern pool.

Waikato will be underdogs, and will need to play a lot better than they did against Manawatu.