2021 Hawke's Bay club rugby
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@stargazer Wait, what??? WTF has happened to Havelock?
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@nepia Round 1 of club rugby - the Nash Cup comp - now has a format with two pools of 5 teams. Only the top four in each pool go forward to the Maddison Trophy. In other words, the teams that rank last in each pool at the end of the round robin don't play for the Maddison Trophy but are instead relegated to Div 1 in round 2 (playing for the Hepa Paewai Memorial Trophy).
At the end of this year's Nash Cup, Pirates were last in pool 1 and Havelock North were last in pool 2, so they played in Div 1 in round 2. Not exactly sure how it works, but I think the teams that play in the final for the Hepa Paewai Memorial Trophy, will play Nash Cup in 2022 ( @Number-10 will probably be able to confirm this). This excludes NOBM Premier Reserve, because they already have team in the Nash Cup. So if I understand it correctly, Aotea is already certain of a spot in the Nash Cup, and Havelock North and Pirates play for the other spot.
The draw for next weekend's semi-finals is now confirmed and one of Havelock North and Pirates won't make the final:
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@stargazer So NOBM could have two teams in the Prems next year?
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@stargazer said in 2021 Hawke's Bay club rugby:
@nepia Nope.
This excludes NOBM Premier Reserve, because they already have team in the Nash Cup.
Good - even though they win enough games, they are weak in several positions, so don't think they have the depth for 2 teams at top level
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@stargazer said in 2021 Hawke's Bay club rugby:
@nepia Nope.
This excludes NOBM Premier Reserve, because they already have team in the Nash Cup.
I shouldn't have skim read.
Good for Aotea.
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Ah, just found this write-up of yesterday's club rugby, that explains it all:
Havelock North and Napier Pirate, the two teams relegated in a competition reformatting after each failed to win a match in the Nash Cup round, kept their hopes alive of an early return to the top grade going by making the Senior Division 1 semifinals.
But they will be playing against each other. Havelock North, already the top qualifiers, completed an unbeaten run of big scores in the lower grade with a 67-17 win in Napier over Tech OB Reserves, who had started with a hope of snatching a playoff position, and Pirate secured the fourth qualifying berth with a 21-19 win over Taradale Reserves.
Division 1 first-round Country winners Aotea, the only other qualifiers eligible for promotion, beat Otane 48-13, to secure a home semifinal against Napier OBM Reserves, who beat Division 1 first-round town champions Maraenui 55-7.
HBRU club rugby manager Sean Davies confirmed that any club that reaches the Division 1 final and does not otherwise have a Premier side will be promoted, and if two of the three lose their semifinals the second promotion rights will go to the winners of the earlier round-robin match between the two sides.So no automatic promotion for Aotea just yet.
Club rugby: We have a final four
One game decides which of 2 players is first to 100 points for the season
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This year's format came about after the players were surveyed after last season and stated they preferred a shorter season.
In 2019 the season started March 16 and finished with the Maddison Trophy final on July 20 = 19 playing Saturdays.
In 2021 the season started April 3 with the Maddison Trophy final on July 17 (including a week off on Queens Birthday) = 15 playing Saturdays.
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@stockcar86 lol another marist hater
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@stargazer that means Aotea will go up as they beat Pirates earlier this year. IMO Aotea are a much better side and far more physical than pirates anyway. Just worried that Clubs won't like the long bus trip and also Aotea may not have the depth required to compete in the premier divison
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@dirtydoolan And what if Havelock North loses its semi? Who won the game between Havelock North and Aotea?
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Havelock defeated both Pirates 36-19 and Aotea 24-14 in the round robin.
Aotea beat Pirates 27-17 in the round robin
If Havelock lose to Pirates then Pirates are up, and Havelock will have to hope Aotea lose their semi for Havelock to go up.
NOBM Reserves cannot get promoted even if they win the final.
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@dirtydoolan said in 2021 Hawke's Bay club rugby:
@stargazer that means Aotea will go up as they beat Pirates earlier this year. IMO Aotea are a much better side and far more physical than pirates anyway. Just worried that Clubs won't like the long bus trip and also Aotea may not have the depth required to compete in the premier divison
On the contrary, what about the trips coming back. There are a few places worth a stop to have a chin wag and ale with the locals!
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@dirtydoolan said in 2021 Hawke's Bay club rugby:
@stockcar86 lol another marist hater
He is fine with the other half of the combined outfit though!!!!!
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@higgins absolutely, but i heard even havelock prems struggled to get squad down to Aotea this season, which is a shame. Aotea always put on a great spread/after match
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@dirtydoolan Country clubs in NZ are renowned for their aftermatch spreads. I spent a year over in Wnaganui and well remember the trips to Waiouru, Hunterville, Taihape Pirates, Ratehi (won a huge trout in a raffle there that night) and the superb feeds put on. Didn't make it to Utiku OB or Ohakune as the club I followed had them at home and can't remember why I did not make it to Waverley. The final pit stop at the Bridge Tavern at Whangaheu on the way back was also another highlight, even though it was just five minutes or so short of Wanganui!
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Next week's club finals will be all be played at McLean Park. Hopefully, they will still be livestreamed!
Article about the finals:
Hawke's Bay's club rugby's big days in the sun - in mid-winter
A big festival of club rugby is brewing at the park
