Heartland Championship 2024
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King Country 18 - 23 Thames Valley
I've just watched a full replay of this game on Sky. It was the first game under lights at Rugby Park, Te Kuiti. Heavy rain during most of the game but the skill level was better than expected in those conditions. Cody Nordstrom is playing centre for KC. Tayne Tupaea had a really good game for TV at lock, as did their captain Matt Axtens, a contemporary of Sam Cane's. We even had a couple of club teammates playing for each team, including NZ U20 prop Will Martin who must be a late loanee for TV.
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Highlights of the KC-TV game:
The Bill Osborne Taonga (their Ranfurly Shield) changes hands again as Thames Valley loses to Whanganui. TV won it off KC a week earlier, who had beaten Buller.
Round 4
Buller 17 - 20 West Coast
Horowhenua Kapiti 19 - 39 Mid Canterbury
North Otago 18 - 24 East Coast
Poverty Bay 24 - 39 Wairarapa Bush
South Canterbury 33 - 19 King Country
Thames Valley 14 - 16 Whanganui -
Some high-scoring games. Score 45 pts and still lose by more than two converted tries.
Round 5
East Coast 45 - 60 Thames Valley
Mid Canterbury 26 - 48 Whanganui
Buller 36 - 28 Poverty Bay
King Country 43 - 17 West Coast
South Canterbury 44 - 31 North Otago
Wairarapa Bush 45 - 62 Horowhenua Kapiti -
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Round 8
East Coast 45 - 32 Wairarapa Bush
Mid Canterbury 47 - 24 Poverty Bay
North Otago 55 - 14 Buller
Thames Valley 35 - 41 Horowhenua Kapiti
West Coast 38 - 43 South Canterbury
Whanganui 17 - 34 King CountryKC win the Bill Osborne Taonga back again.
Semis
Meads Cup
Whanganui v Thames Valley
South Canterbury v Mid CanterburyLochore Cup
King Country v East Coast
Horowhenua Kapiti v West Coast