Pink Batts Heartland Championship cheer chart
The team has been crunching the scenarios and worked out who you need to cheer for in the last round of the Pink Batts Heartland Championship before the semifinals.
Things are looking pretty interesting, with the top eight teams all going through to a semifinal of one kind or another – teams finishing first to fourth go through to the Meads Cup while teams finishing fifth to eighth will contest the Lochore Cup.
We couldn’t bring ourselves to work out every scenario so we’ve focussed on the basics – but any draws this weekend will definitely make things more exciting but helluva complicated!
Buller
Playing: Wairarapa Bush
Current position: First
Whether they win or lose, Buller will host a Meads Cup semifinal and retain their top of the table position – and if they win then that’s an unbeaten round robin.
Best case: First
Worst case: First
Who to cheer for: Buller
East Coast
Playing: North Otago
Current position: Twelfth
They can’t change their position on the table but a win for East Coast would be their first of the season and a great note on which to end 2014.
Best case: Twelfth
Worst case: Twelfth
Who to cheer for: East Coast
Horowhenua Kapiti
Playing: Poverty Bay
Current position: Third
Horowhenua Kapiti will play a semifinal and could secure a home Meads Cup semi with a win. A loss could see them vulnerable to being overtaken by teams below them. A tie with King Country will be broken by points difference, since the two sides haven’t met in round robin.
Best case: Second
Worst case: Fifth
Who to cheer for: Horowhenua Kapiti, Wanganui
King Country
Playing: Wanganui
Current position: Sixth
A win and a draw between Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury (give or take few other scenarios) could see King Country snatch place in the Meads Cup semifinals, although they they are still playing for a place in the Lochore Cup playoffs. If they lose, Wanganui or Thames Valley could overtake them on the ladder. North Otago can’t overtake King Country in case of a tie.
Best case: Third
Worst case: Eighth
Who to cheer for: King Country, Poverty Bay, West Coast, East Coast and cheering for a Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury draw
Mid Canterbury
Playing: South Canterbury
Current position: Fourth
A win will secure a place in the Meads Cup semifinals – a loss and they’ll be contesting the Lochore Cup. Mid Canterbury haven’t played Poverty Bay so if they’re tied on competition points then it will go to points difference and they lost to Thames Valley so will want to avoid a tie with the Swampfoxes.
Best case: Third
Worst case: Seventh
Who to cheer for: Mid Canterbury, Wanganui, West Coast
North Otago
Playing: East Coast
Current position: Ninth
North Otago needs one more competition point that Wanganui this weekend in order to overtake the Butcher’s Boys and secure a Lochore Cup semifinal spot. North Otago can’t be overtaken from below them on the table. A tie with King Country would favour KC while a tie with Thames Valley would go North Otago’s way because of round robin results.
Best case: Seventh
Worst case: Ninth
Who to cheer for: North Otago, West Coast and King Country
Poverty Bay
Playing: Horowhenua Kapiti
Current position: Second
Poverty Bay could capture home advantage for a Meads Cup semifinal if they win – a loss and they’ll be on the road. A bonus point could be handy if they lose. South Canterbury beat Poverty Bay in round robin so would go ahead in case of a tie, while Poverty Bay haven’t met Mid Canterbury so points difference would come into play.
Best case: Second
Worst case: Fourth
Who to cheer for: Poverty Bay, Wanganui
South Canterbury
Playing: Mid Canterbury
Current position: Fifth
It could be either set of semifinals for South Canterbury, depending on results. A win and it’s likely they’ll be in the Meads Cup. Thames Valley and South Canterbury haven’t met in 2014 so a tie will go to points difference.
Best case: Second
Worst case: Seventh
Who to cheer for: South Canterbury, West Coast
Thames Valley
Playing: West Coast
Current position: Seventh
The right combination of results and a win with a bonus point for the Swampfoxes could see them in a Lochore Cup semifinal, with a chance of hosting. A loss and they could miss out altogether. North Otago (won in round robin) and Wanganui (points difference) could both go ahead if tied with Thames Valley on points.
Best case: Fifth
Worst case: Ninth
Who to cheer for: Thames Valley, East Coast, King Country
Wairarapa Bush
Playing: Buller
Current position: Eleventh
They’re out of semifinal contention but a win over the table-topping Buller side would be a great way for Wairarapa Bush to finish out 2014.
Best case: Tenth
Worst case: Eleventh
Who to cheer for: Wairarapa Bush, Thames Valley
Wanganui
Playing: King Country
Current position: Eighth
A win will see Wanganui contest for the Lochore Cup, but they will need to ensure they earn one more competition point than North Otago or preserve their current points difference advantage in case of a tie or they could miss out altogether.
Best case: Fourth
Worst case: Ninth
Who to cheer for: Wanganui, East Coast
West Coast
Playing: Thames Valley
Current position: Tenth
The semifinals are out of reach for West Coast but a win over Thames Valley would be a strong finish for the red and whites, while they’ll be hoping neighbours Buller hold off Wairarapa Bush, ensuring they don’t get overtaken.
Best case: Tenth
Worst case: Eleventh
Who to cheer for: West Coast, Buller
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