Grass roots

[Manu Vatuvei]

Just a random thought - National Provincial Championship grand final this week, Counties v (Te Atatu Roosters dominated) Auckland Vulcans.

I find it very surprising that Bay of Plenty, Otago and Waikato were all in the comp this year but Canterbury were in the second tier comp. Apparently it's because Canterbury came last last year and therefore got relegated. I've watched a few of the games and it's fair to say the likes of Waikato, BOP and Otago are not very good. Surely Canterbury aren't that weak, in light of the sort of crowd they got to the club grand final?

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Just a random thought - National Provincial Championship grand final this week, Counties v (Te Atatu Roosters dominated) Auckland Vulcans.

I find it very surprising that Bay of Plenty, Otago and Waikato were all in the comp this year but Canterbury were in the second tier comp. Apparently it's because Canterbury came last last year and therefore got relegated. I've watched a few of the games and it's fair to say the likes of Waikato, BOP and Otago are not very good. Surely Canterbury aren't that weak, in light of the sort of crowd they got to the club grand final?

They were absolutely dreadful last year, just not good enough to foot it with the big guns and then got embarrassed in the relegation game. Not all of the best club players seemed to put themselves up for selection either

They still struggled a bit this year, only narrowly putting away the West Coast, but beat Wellington last week to return to the top comp next year I think

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Auckland/Te Atatu Vulcans win a GP thriller 23-22 to take the National Title. Te Atatu's Kadiyae Ioka with the winning field goal and Te Atatu's Pat Vaivai man of the match, with tries to Te Atatu's Fine Vakautakakala and Ethan Figota.

 

[Big Marn]

They were absolutely dreadful last year, just not good enough to foot it with the big guns and then got embarrassed in the relegation game. Not all of the best club players seemed to put themselves up for selection either

They still struggled a bit this year, only narrowly putting away the West Coast, but beat Wellington last week to return to the top comp next year I think

so Wellington got relegated or were they already in tier 2? Cant believe Wellington got so weak when you consider their strongholds.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

so Wellington got relegated or were they already in tier 2? Cant believe Wellington got so weak when you consider their strongholds.

Wellington were already in Tier 2 and would have won the Northern Zone and had a playoff with Canterbury who won the Southern zone

National Premiership this year was Akarana, Auckland, Counties, BOP, Waikato and Otago. I’d presume the lowest ranked of those 6 heads down next year