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From: doc@docdevl.actrix.gen.nz (Paul Waite)
Subject: NZ NPC
Organization: P&P Wellington, New Zealand
Message-ID: 
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 10:03:04 GMT
Lines: 226

.                                                         
  |    |          _________________________       |    |   NZ NPC
  |    |         /oooooooooooooooooooooooo/\      |    |   * Results
  |____|       /ooooooooooooooooooooooooo/ |      |____|   * Reports
  |    |     /oooooooooooooooooooooooooo/  |      |    |   * News
  |    |    |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|   |      |    |
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
         The New Zealand National Provincial Championship

             This article features short reports news,
              and results in the NPC in New Zealand.
                 Weekend of 1st-2nd October 1994
                            --====--
APOLOGIES
~~~~~~~~~
Due to car problems, and generally being up to my elbows in oil
repairing the bastard, this week's effort is somewhat abbreviated
and basic, caused by a lack of time. Hopefully normal service
will be restored next week for the NZ NPC semi-finals.


HEADLINES
~~~~~~~~~
Auckland beat Waikato at Hamilton by 37-15, a result which flattered
the Aucks.

King Country triumphed 16-12 over Taranaki in a bottom of the table
tussle to determine which side was relegated to the second division.

In a stunningly intense and fast-paced match Canterbury held off a
strong Otago Ranfurly Shield challenge to win 22-20 with a last-gasp
penalty from Andrew Mehrtens.

At Takapuna Wellington failed to beat North Harbour when they lost
43-17. Harbour were simply in a class by themselves in this match.
Wellington were playing for a place in the semi-finals.


MATCH REPORTS: 1st DIVISION
===========================

Waikato 15(0)  Auckland 37(13)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waikato were plagued by the same problems of missing crucial first-up
tackles, and turning over possession which have been with them all
season, although the result flattered the Auckland team somewhat.

The game was played at Rugby Park, Hamilton. Scorers for Auckland
were Waisake Sotutu 2 tries, Sean Fitzpatrick, Eroni Clarke and
Junior Tonu'u 1 try each, Shane Howarth 3 conversions, and 2
penalties.

For Waikato Andrew Strawbridge, Todd Miller, and Mathew Cooper 1
try each.


King Country 16(13)  Taranaki 12(6)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Despite a strong resurgence in the second half Taranki couldn't
bring off the win they needed to avoid the drop into second division
football next season.

For King Country scorers were L. Lankilde try, H. Coffin 3 penalties
and 1 conversion.

For Taranaki D. Lilley 3 penalties, A. Broughton 1 dropped goal.


North Harbour 43(7)  Wellington 17(12)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Playing with the wind in the first half against a side which didn't
seem too interested in anything except giving away silly penalties
Wellington just managed to go in 12-7 up.

The second half saw Harbour change up a gear. Although still not
on full song by any means, the breadth of their attack was shown
in the brilliant running of Glen Osbourne, Eric Rush and Walter Little
who played at first-five eighth. The Wellington defence lacked the
kind of organization required to beat off a side of the class of
North Harbour and they deservedly succumbed. The score adequately
reflected the difference in skill levels of the two sides.

Scorers for Harbour were Blair Larsen 2 tries, Frank Bunce, Eric
Rush, Richard Turner, Ian Jones tries, Glenn Osbourne 5 conversions,
and 1 penalty.

For Wellington Tana Umaga 1 try, John Preston 4 penalties.


Canterbury 22(10)  Otago 20(15)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To do this game justice in words here, I would have to sit and type
for about 4 hours solidly. This game was as exciting and as full of
skill and action as any test match I've seen. I must congratulate
*both* teams for putting on what has got to be the best match so
far in this season's NPC.

The game started at a pace that the casual observer would probably
expect players to be able to sustain for 10 minutes at the outside.
Well, the game continued throughout 90% of it's duration at that same
electric pace.

Otago started by scoring a super try after a heavy pressure on the
Canterbury line from a 5m scrum and a series of rucks. Jamie Joseph 
finally powered over between the posts in a awesome display of 
driving while being tackled by 2-3 players. Jeff Wilson converted.
It was still only the 3rd minute of the game!

In the seventh minute a blow for Canterbury as halfback Graeme Bachop
is forced from the field with a knee injury which has resulted
in an early end to the season for him.

In the 12th minute the Red and Blacks struck back. From a penalty
the Canty forwards set up two rucks before releasing it to the
backs for Paula Bale to score in the corner. Scoreline Otago 7
Canterbury 5.

In the 20th minute a piece of Steven Bachop magic as he chips over
the Canterbury defence for his outside backs, follows up and
picks up the loose ball after a tackle to score in the left
corner. Jeff Wilson was off target, score Otago 12 Canterbury 5.

The score moved out to 15-5 two minutes later via a Wilson penalty,
and it was beginning to look black for the Canterbury lads. However
an Andrew Mehrtens bomb causes Timu problems and Canterbury retain
the ball, spread it wide and let Paula Bale in for his second.

It was 15-10 at half-time and Canterbury were back in it. The 46th
minute sees Otago in control, and Philpott fumbles. Wilson grabs
the ball and linking with a flying David Latter in a superb
move down the wing Stu Forster is set up for the try. 20-10 to
Otago.

In the 49th minute Mehrtens lands a crucial penalty for the home
side to make it 20-13.

In the 55th minute Richard Loe leaves the field for treatment to
an arm problem. Later reports are that it is a flare up of that
nasty injury caused by Paul Carroza's nose a couple of years
back. Loe returns to the field, having (it is later revealed)
taken a pain-killer for a suspected broken arm.

In the 60th minute Philpott is brought down 10m short having been
caught for pace by Jeff Wilson. Eight minutes later Canterbury
edge closer with another Mehrtens penalty to make it 20-16, and
cause the fans to yell themselves hoarse.

Intense Canterbury pressure brings another penalty and the scores
get to within one point at 20-19. The excitment is elctric and
everyone senses something amzing is about to happen, either way!

Otago hold out until the 78th minute and look as if they are
going to lift the Shield when there is a 5m scrum in Otago
territory. From the second phase play, Otago skipper David
Latter dives over the top and gives away the final penalty. He
remains on the ground for several minutes, his hands covering his
eyes as he realises that he has just lost the game in a moment's
indiscipline. Mehrtens makes no mistake and nails the penalty
to make it 22-20 to Canterbury.


MATCH REPORTS: 2nd DIVISION
===========================

Scores only from this division this week folks. Sorry.

Bay of Plenty  27     Hawkes Bay  38

Nelson Bays    12     Southland   28

Wairarapa-Bush 11     Horowhenua   3

Northland      31     Manawatu    12


RESULTS TABLES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
__________________________________________
1st DIVISION  P   W   D   L    F    A  Pts
Auckland      8   7   -   1  319  164  29
N Harbour     8   7   -   1  294  165  28
Canterbury    8   6   -   2  230  194  24
Otago         8   4   -   4  241  205  18
Counties      8   4   -   4  179  166  17
Wellington    8   4   -   4  200  262  16
Waikato       8   3   -   5  191  202  13
King Country  8   1   -   7  136  324   4
Taranaki      8   -   -   8  153  261   4

__________________________________________
2nd DIVISION  P   W   D   L    F    A  Pts
Hawkes Bay    8   8   -   -  399  172  32
Southland     8   7   -   1  284  177  28
Bay of Plenty 8   6   -   2  314  227  24
Northland     8   5   -   3  343  166  21
Manawatu      8   4   -   4  260  222  17
Nelson Bays   8   3   -   5  156  279  12
S Canterbury  8   2   -   6  218  269  10
Horowhenua    8   1   -   7  155  304   4
Wairarapa     8   -   -   8  107  420   1


NEXT WEEK
~~~~~~~~~
The 'round robin' stage of the NPC is now over. The top four teams
in all divisions now play off in semi-finals to determine who
gets to the final match of the season.

1st Division semi-finals
North Harbour      vs    Canterbury        Takapuna
Otago              vs    Auckland          Dunedin

2nd Division semi-finals
Northland          vs    Southland         Whangerei
Hawkes Bay         vs    Bay of Plenty     Napier

3rd Division semi-finals
Thames Valley      vs    Poverty Bay       Gisbourne
Wanganui           vs    Mid-Canterbury    Wanganui


-- 
____________________________________________________________________________
Paul Waite                                         doc@docdevl.actrix.gen.nz
Wellington, New Zealand                                       +64-4-233-1764
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