Cantabs, Lions needed tiebreaker rules

Auckland joined Canterbury on Sunday in booking themselves a home NPC semifinal next weekend after a final week of round robin matches that has had officials reaching for the tie-breaker regulations.

Wellington will travel to Christchurch for their Friday semifinal against defending champions and Ranfurly Shield holders Canterbury, while the Waikato Mooloos head north for their semifinal against Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday.

Auckland and Canterbury are tied on 45 competition points after Auckland’s bonus-point win against Tasman on Sunday.

With tiebreaker regulations giving the benefit to teams who won matches against others on the same points, Canterbury’s 35–16 win over Auckland in Week Five sees Canterbury take the lead spot.

Wellington earned their semifinal spot after putting away the Southland Stags 27–14 in Invercargill on Saturday.

With 42 points, the Lions are tied with Taranaki who notched up a 49-47 win over North Harbour Saturday.

The tiebreaker rule came into play again, with Wellington’s 49–15 win over Taranaki last week just edging Taranaki out of the semifinal spots.

Despite being dealt a 26–6 defeat at the hands of a strong Waikato side in Hamilton on Friday, Canterbury remained top of the table.

The Canterbury versus Wellington semifinal kicks off at 19.35 on Friday, October 29, in Christchurch and the Auckland versus Waikato semifinal at Eden Park, Auckland, kicks off on Saturday, October 30, at the earlier time of 19.05 ahead of the Bledisloe Cup Test match in Hong Kong.

The NPC Final will be played on Friday, November 5.

NPC Semifinals:

Friday, October 29: Canterbury v Wellington, 19.35, Christchurch

Saturday, October 30: Auckland v Waikato, 19.05, Auckland (earlier kick-off to accommodate Hong Kong Bledisloe Test)

Meads Cup and Lochore Cup Finals:

Lochore Cup:

Saturday, October 30: Buller v Wairarapa Bush, Westport, 13.05

Meads Cup:

Saturday, October 30: North Otago v Wanganui, Oamaru, 16.05