The Hikurangi Stags, the quiet achievers in the RLN Scott Electrical Premiership, have all but won the Minor Premiership with two weeks left to play, after thrashing Horahora 64 – 10. In doing so, the Stags sit on 26 points and have put a five point buffer between them and second placed, Moerewa Tigers.
Moerewa Tigers hold on to second place after their loss to the Otangarei Knights. It would be fair to say that the Tigers are in a form slump, with last week’s draw the only points the Tigers have won in the last four weeks. With the exception of Hikurangi securing top place, the top six placings will not be confirmed until the final whistle in two weeks time. The Tigers run home sees them play the Bulls and Hikurangi.
The win for the Knights win over the Tigers sees them hold onto sixth place, keeping the Hokianga Pioneers out of the top six only by points differential. The Pioneers are hurting after their abandoned game last week against Portland with the result being a point a piece. In the RLN Format, teams had 14 days to replay the game or they would have to share the points. The Pioneers were hungry to play the game, but the Panthers couldn’t accommodate them due to a number of the Squad being shift workers. The Pioneers have Horahora and Muriwhenua for their run home so destiny is in their own hands. Otangarei have a tougher ask on paper with Takahiwai and Portland.
Takahiwai have found form at the right end of the season with 28 – 14 win over the Portland Panthers, while the Panthers continue their up and down form. The win puts Takahiwai into 3rd place and the Panthers slip from 3rd to 5th. Muriwhenua Falcons are the dark horses of the Premiership with their 40 – 30 win over the Northern Wairoa Bulls. The Bulls loss will see them almost certainly miss out on the finals, they sit on 14 points with sixth place sitting on 18.
Week one of the play offs is on the 2nd of August at Toll Stadium, the top 2 earn the week off, while 3rd plays 6th and 4th plays 5th in the Minor Semis Finals. The Major Semi finals are on August the 8th with 1st playing the winner between 4th and 5th and 2nd playing the winner between 3rd and 6th. August 16th is the Grand Final, all played at Toll Stadium.
In the Championship, Otangarei beat Moerewa 30 – 10, Takahiwai beat Marist 30 – 22. The Championship playoff sees a top 4 straight semi-finals. The Top three is all but confirmed with Pawarenga, Otaua and Takahiwai. Fourth place will be anyone between Moerewa, Marist, Otangarei and Hikurangi.
Click here to view RLN Scott Electrical Premiership – Results and Points Table
Click here to view RLN Championship – Results and Points Table
