Last round will decide final team placings
Calculators could be a fingertip away at Taranaki Rugby HQ tomorrow afternoon to determine the final placings in the CMK premier club rugby standings.
Ahead of this weekend’s last round, there are several scenarios that will determine the make-up of the top four, meaning every match this weekend has something riding on it.
This has been a common trend in Taranaki club rugby for several seasons, where the order has been determined in the final week, a sign of the competitiveness towards the end of the season.
While Coastal, Tukapa and StratfordEltham have confirmed their place in the top three, the order could change depending on the weekend’s results.
If Tukapa beat Spotswood United today at Sanders Park and Coastal claim a win against New Plymouth Old Boys at Vogeltown Park tomorrow, with or without a bonus point, then it will come down to who beat who during the season.
If that’s shared, it will come down to the number of wins during the season and then points differential will confirm first place.
If Stratford-eltham lose to Clifton at Tikorangi tomorrow and Tukapa or Coastal lose, then the central Taranaki side could finish first or second to host a play-off match.
But the equations can get more complicated for the final position in the top four.
If Clifton and Old Boys both win, with or without a bonus point, points differential will determine fourth place.
Southern, who travel to Inglewood on Saturday, will be out if either Old Boys or Clifton win.
If Southern win and Clifton and Old Boys both lose, then it will depend on whether the losing teams gain bonus points or if Southern get a bonus point, which will determine the fourth place.
Inglewood and Spotswood United cannot make the top four but can upset other teams’ chances.
While Stratford-eltham have already locked in a semifinal, coach Ross Williams said Saturday is about improving on their game and building towards knockout rugby. “We made advances last week in our variation on attack, “he said.
“We understand Clifton will provide different pictures and we need to be prepared for that.”
Clifton co-coach Mike Kainga knows tomorrow’s match is a must-win game.
“That’s been our emphasis this week,” he said. “Although we have been ravaged by injuries, we have a next man up mentality, and we trust that they will get the job done.” He said the biggest work-on for the team was being disciplined enough to execute their game plan for the entire 80 minutes, along with knowing his forwards need to step up against one of the strongest packs in the competition.
Week 12 (final round): Today: Tukapa v Spotswood United, Sanders Park. Tomor
row: NPOB v Coastal, Vogeltown Park; Clifton v Stratford/eltham, Tikorangi Domain; Inglewood v Southern, TET Stadium. All matches kick off at 2.45pm.