Week One action in the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship

COMING UP THIS WEEK
Week One action in the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship :

Mitre 10 Heartland Championship set to entertain again in 2018

From the East to the West Coast, Thames Valley down to North Otago, the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship kicks off this weekend bringing provincial rugby to all corners of the country.

The competition sees 12 teams play 54 matches across 10 weeks with two pieces of prestigious silverware up for grabs; the Meads Cup and Lochore Cup.

New Zealand Rugby’s Chief Rugby Officer Nigel Cass said the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship is a popular competition that produces hard-fought, exciting matches.

“This competition is truly unique to New Zealand and highlights what is so good about our game.

“There is a distinct grassroots feel to the Heartland Championship with dedicated players, coaches, management and fans that epitomise what rugby is all about. These are people that work full time, train at nights and travel across the country each weekend all for the pride of their jersey and province,” said Cass.

In a thrilling 2017 season, Wanganui was able to defend their Meads Cup title, after finishing fourth-equal and advancing to the semi finals on points difference. It was their third title in as many years after beating Horowhenua Kapiti 30-14 in the final.

Mid Canterbury claimed a maiden Lochore Cup title with a dominant 47-15 victory over West Coast, culminating a strong season that saw them score the most points of any team.

Opening Round
First round match ups don’t get more enticing than Wanganui hosting South Canterbury. The defending champions pipped South Canterbury with a 29-24 victory in the Meads Cup semi-final last year, after South Canterbury had finished regular season at the top of the table.

Other exciting fixtures will see Horowhenua Kapiti host Mid Canterbury and North Otago host Buller.

Heartland XV
Players will be vying to impress selectors to earn a place in the New Zealand Heartland XV, who will be playing their traditional fixture against New Zealand Marist on 3rd November.

The Heartland XV, in their quest to retain the MacCrae Cup, will be coached by Craig  Scanlon and Mark Rutene, appointed as Assistant Coach.

Roll of Honour

Meads Cup ~ Lochore Cup
2006    Wairarapa Bush ~ Poverty Bay
2007    North Otago ~ Poverty Bay
2008    Wanganui ~ Poverty Bay
2009    Wanganui ~ North Otago
2010    North Otago ~ Wairarapa Bush
2011    Wanganui ~ Poverty Bay
2012    East Coast ~ Buller
2013    Mid Canterbury ~ South Canterbury
2014    Mid Canterbury ~ Wanganui
2015   Wanganui ~ King Country
2016   Wanganui ~ North Otago
2017   Wanganui ~ Mid Canterbury

– Head to Head –

Horowhenua-Kapiti v Mid Canterbury Saturday 25 August, 2.30pm at @ Foxton
		Played: 21 , 1958-2017 | Horowhenua-Kapiti wins: 5 | Mid Canterbury wins: 16 Last match: Horowhenua-Kapiti 26 Mid Canterbury 42 – 2017 (M10HC) Last Horowhenua-Kapiti win: Mid Canterbury 43 Horowhenua Kapiti 47 – 2015 (M10HC) Last Mid Canterbury win: Horowhenua-Kapiti 26 Mid Canterbury 42  – 2017 (ITMC) Biggest Horowhenua-Kapiti score: 47 in 2015 Mid Canterbury 43 Horowhenua Kapiti 47 – 2015 (M10HC) Biggest Mid Canterbury score: 48 in 2012 Mid Canterbury 48 Horowhenua Kapiti 12 – 2015 (M10HC) Biggest differential:Mid Canterbury by 36 (48-12) in 2015 (M10HC)
King Country v East Coast Saturday 25 August, 2.30pm at @ Te Kuiti
		Played: 25, 1976-2017 | King Country wins: 22 | East Coast wins: 3 Last match: East Coast 24 King Country 72 – 2016 (M10HC) Last King Country win:  East Coast 24 King Country 72 – 2016 (M10HC) Last East Coast win:  East Coast 56 King Country 24 – 2012 (M10HC) Biggest King Country score: 99 in 1992 (NPC) East Coast 00 King Country 99 – 1992 (NPC) Biggest East Coast score: 56 in 2012 ast Coast 56 King Country 24 – 2012 (M10HC) Biggest differential: King Country by 99 (99-00) in 1992 (NPC)
North Otago v Buller Saturday 25 August, 2.30pm at @ Oamaru
		Played: 42, 1935-2017 | North Otago wins: 21 | Buller wins: 21 Last match: Buller 33 North Otago 31 – 2017 (M10HC) Last North Otago win:  North Otago 35 Buller 34  – 2015 (M10HC) Last Buller win:  Buller 33 North Otago 31 – 2017 (M10HC) Biggest North Otago score: 54 in 1997 (NPC) North Otago 54 Buller 29 – 1997 (NPC) Biggest Buller score: 34 in 1992 & 2015 2015 North Otago 35 Buller 34 (M10HC) 1992 Buller 34 North Otago 06 (NPC) Biggest differential: North Otago by 31 (51-20) in 2007 (M10HC)
Poverty Bay v Wairarapa Bush Saturday 25 August, 2.30pm at @ Gisborne
		Played: 34, 1976-2017 | Poverty Bay wins: 17 | Wairarapa Bush wins: 16 | Draws: 1 Last match: Poverty Bay 31 Wairarapa-Bush 06  in Gisborne – 2017 (M10C) Last Poverty Bay win:Poverty Bay 31 Wairarapa-Bush 06  in Gisborne – 2017 (M10C) Last Wairarapa Bush win:  Wairarapa Bush 26 Poverty Bay 14 – 2016 (M10HC) Biggest Poverty Bay score: 62 in 2010 (M10HC) Poverty Bay 62 Wairarapa-Bush 06 – 2010 (M10HC) Biggest Wairarapa Bush score: 46 in 2012 Wairarapa Bush 46 Poverty Bay 14 (M10HC) Biggest differential: Poverty Bay by 56 (62 – 06) in 2010 (M10HC)
Thames Valley v West Coast Saturday 25 August, 2.00pm at @ Te Aroha
		Played: 18, 1984-2017 | Thames Valley wins: 11 | West Coast wins: 6 | Draws: 1 Last match: West Coast 24 Thames Valley 17 in Greymouth – 2017 (M10C) Last Thames Valley win:Thames Valley 29 West Coast 17  in Paeroa – 2015 (M10C) Last West Coast win:  West Coast 24 Thames Valley 17 in Greymouth – 2017 (M10C) Biggest Thames Valley score: 74 in 1994 (NPC) Thames Valley 74 West Coast 05 – 1994 (NPC) Biggest West Coast score: 34 in 2007 West Coast 34 Thames Valley 17 (M10HC) Biggest differential: Poverty Bay by 69 (74 – 05 ) in 1994 (NPC)
Wanganui v South Canterbury @ Wanganui Saturday 25 August, 2.30pm at @ Wanganui
		Played: 39, 1894-2017 | Wanganui wins: 24 | South Canterbury wins: 13 | Draws: 2 Last match: South Canterbury 24 Wanganui 29 in Timaru – 2017 (M10C-Meads Cup Semi Final) Last Wanganui win: South Canterbury 24 Wanganui 29 in Timaru – 2017 (M10C-Meads Cup Semi Final) Last South Canterbury win:  South Canterbury 21 Wanganui 17 in Timaru – 2017 (M10C) Biggest Wanganui score: 59 in 2009 (M10HC) Wanganui 59 South Canterbury 14 – 2009 (M10HC) Biggest South Canterbury score: 41 in 1960 South Canterbury 41 Wanganui 09 Biggest differential: Wanganui by 45 (59-14 ) in 2009 (M10HC)

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