2019 Heartland Championship

Date	24 August 2019 (2019-08-24)–27 October 2019 (2019-10-27)[1]
Countries	New Zealand
Tournament statistics
Matches played	54
Website	heartlandchampionship.co.nz
← 2018 2021 →

The 2019 Heartland Championship, known as the 2019 Mitre 10 Heartland Championship for sponsorship reasons,^[1] was the 14th edition of the Heartland Championship, a rugby union competition involving the twelve amateur rugby unions in New Zealand. The tournament began with a round-robin stage in which the twelve teams played eight games each, from which the top four advanced to the Meads Cup semifinals, while fifth to eighth advanced to the Lochore Cup semifinals. In both of these knockout stages the top seeds (first and fifth) played at home against the lowest seeds (fourth and eighth), the second highest seeds (second and sixth) played at home against the third highest seeds (third and seventh) and the final featured the higher seed playing at home against the lower seed.

Teams

Buller

East Coast

Horowhenua-Kapiti

King Country

Mid Canterbury

North Otago

Poverty Bay

South Canterbury

Thames Valley

Wairarapa Bush

Wanganui

West Coast

Locations of the 2019 Heartland Championship teams

The 2019 Heartland Championship was contested by the following teams.^[2]

	Team	Super Rugby partner	Hometown(s)	Home stadium	Capacity[3]
	Buller	Crusaders	Westport	Victoria Square	5,000
	East Coast	Hurricanes	Ruatoria	Whakarua Park	3,000
	Horowhenua-Kapiti	Hurricanes	Levin	Levin Domain	6,500
			Waikanae	Waikanae Park
	King Country	Chiefs	Taupō	Owen Delany Park	20,000
			Te Kuiti	Rugby Park
	Mid Canterbury	Crusaders	Ashburton	Ashburton Showgrounds	5,000
	North Otago	Highlanders	Oamaru	Whitestone Contracting Stadium	7,000
	Poverty Bay	Hurricanes	Gisborne	More FM Rugby Park	18,000
	South Canterbury	Crusaders	Timaru	Fraser Park	12,000
	Thames Valley	Chiefs	Paeroa	Paeroa Domain	3,000
	Wairarapa Bush	Hurricanes	Masterton	Trust House Memorial Park	10,000
	Wanganui	Hurricanes	Wanganui	Cooks Gardens	15,000
	West Coast	Crusaders	Greymouth	Rugby Park	6,000

Standings

Pos.	Team	GP	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TB	LB	Pts
1	Thames Valley	8	6	0	2	240	163	+77	4	2	30
2	North Otago	8	6	0	2	241	166	+75	3	2	29
3	Wairarapa Bush	8	6	0	2	209	181	+28	4	1	29
4	Wanganui	8	5	0	3	294	184	+110	6	2	28
5	West Coast	8	6	0	2	217	232	-15	3	0	27
6	Buller	8	5	0	3	261	196	+65	5	1	26
7	South Canterbury	8	4	1	3	237	176	+61	4	3	25
8	Poverty Bay	8	3	0	5	237	257	−20	6	2	20
9	Horowhenua-Kapiti	8	3	0	5	184	250	−66	3	2	17
10	King Country	7	2	0	5	172	230	−58	3	2	13
11	Mid Canterbury	8	1	1	6	161	236	−75	2	2	10
12	East Coast	9	0	0	9	172	354	-182	1	3	4

In the case of a two-team tie on points the ranking of teams is decided by:

• (1) the winner of the round robin match between the two provinces; then
• (2) highest point difference; then
• (3) most tries scored; then
• (4) a coin toss.

In the caseof a three-team or more tie on points the ranking of teams is decided by:

• (1) the province with the most wins against other tied provinces in the Round Robin; then
• (2) if two teams remain tied they shall be ranked according to the criteria listed above, but if more than two teams remain tied, they shall be ranked according to criteria (2) to (4) only.

Regular season

The schedule of fixtures was confirmed on 25 February 2019.^[1][2]

Round 1

	24 August 2019	Buller	54–19	East Coast	Victoria Square, Westport
	14:30 NZST	Try: James Lash (2) T. Manawatu (2) Robbie Malneek Alex Paterson Jack Best Petaia Saukuru Con: James Lash (7)	Report	Try: Hakarangi Tichborne (2) Mitchell Crosswell Con: Zane King (2)	Referee: T Giffiths

	24 August 2019	Mid Canterbury	10–17	Horowhenua-Kapiti	Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton
	14:30 NZST	Try: Seta Koroitamana Josh McAtamney	Report	Try: Scott Cameron Nardus Eramus Con: Himiona Henare (2/2) Pen: Himiona Henare (1)

	24 August 2019	South Canterbury	20–26	North Otago	Fraser Park, Timaru
	14:30 NZST	Try: Siu Kakala (2) Nick Strachan Con: Faalele Iosua (1) Pen: Faalele Iosua (1)	Report	Try: Melikisua Kolinisau Howard Packman Con: Robbie Smith (2/2) Pen: Robbie Smith (4)	Referee: J Bredin

	24 August 2019	Thames Valley	15–17	Poverty Bay	Paeroa Domain, Paeroa
	14:30 NZST	Try: Kieran Lee (2) Danny Kayes	Report	Try: Riki Terekia Andrew Tauatevalu (2) Con: Andrew Tauatevalu (1)	Referee: D Waenga

	24 August 2019	Wairarapa Bush	28–18	Wanganui	Trust House Memorial Park, Masterton
	14:30 NZST	Try: Tristan Flutey Sam Tufuga Logan Hebenton-Prendeville Con: Tipene Haira (2) Pen: Tipene Haira (3)	Report	Try: Roman Tutauha Lindsay Horrocks Con: Dane Whale (1) Pen: Dane Whale (1) Drop: Craig Clarke (1)	Referee: M Winter

	24 August 2019	West Coast	56–27	King Country	Rugby Park, Greymouth
	14:30 NZST	Try: Josh Tomlinson (2) Boris van Bruchem Dan Davis Brad Tauwhare Jesse Pitman-Joass Nick Thomson Jared Mitchell Con: Todd Struthers (5) Pen: Todd Struthers (2)	Report	Try: Aletosio Tapili Stephen Turner Chulainn Mabbett-Sowerby Bradly Jeffries Con: Evann Reihana (2) Pen: Evann Reihana (1)	Referee: N Webster

Round 2

	30 August 2019	North Otago	25–11	Wairarapa Bush	Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
	17:05 NZST	Try: Howard Packman Samuel Tatupu Lemi Masoe Con: Robbie Smith (2/3) Pen: Robbie Smith (2)	Report	Try: Brock Price Con: Tipene Haira (0/1) Pen: Tipene Haira (2)	Referee: S Curran

	30 August 2019	King Country	34–12	Buller	Owen Delany Park
	19:30 NZST	Try: Alefosio Tapili (2) Sisa Vosaki (2) Zayn Tipping Con: Evaan Reihana (3) Pen: Evaan Reihana (1)	Report	Try: Gabba de Kock (2) Con: Timoti Manawatu (1)	Referee: H Reed

	31 August 2019	East Coast	15–22	Mid Canterbury	Whakarua Park, Ruatoria
	14:30 NZST	Try: Zac Guildford Epeli Lotawa Con: Zane King (1) Pen: Zane King (1)	Report	Try: Jon Dampney Matt McAtamney Manasa Bari Con: Corey McKay (2) Pen: Corey McKay (1)

	31 August 2019	Horowhenua-Kapiti	21–27	West Coast	Horowhenua Community Trust Levin Domain, Levin
	14:30 NZST	Try: Kane Tamou Nathan Kendrick Himiona Henare Con: Codi Hemi (3/3)	Report	Try: Josh Tomlinson Sam Lebezeit Jesse Pitman-Joass Con: Todd Struthers (3/3) Pen: Todd Struthers (1) Drop: Jesse Pitman-Joass (1)	Referee: J Bredin

	31 August 2019	Poverty Bay	29–40	South Canterbury	More FM Rugby Park, Gisborne
	14:30 NZST	Try: Adrian Wyrill (2) Ethan Reeves Penalty try Con: Andrew Tauateluva (2/2) Pen: Andrew Tauateluva (1)	Report	Try: Brad Tunnicliffe (3) Clarence Moli (2) Zac Saunders Con: Theo Davidson (2) Pen: Theo Davidson (1) Reilly Cormack (1)	Referee: T Cottrell

	31 August 2019	Wanganui	30–36	Thames Valley	Cooks Gardens, Wanganui
	14:30 NZST	Try: Nick Harding Roman Tutauha Dane Whale Shay Wiperi Con: Nick Harding (2) Pen: Nick Harding (2)	Report	Try: Laulea Mau Matiu Abraham Jason Laurich Pen: Regan Crosland (7)	Referee: Rebecca Mahoney

Round 3

	7 September 2019	Buller	22–21	Wanganui	Victoria Square, Westport
	14:30 NZST	Try: A. Paterson L. Ravudra P. Saukuru Con: James Lash (2) Pen: James Lash (1)	Report	Try: Scorers unknown[4]	Referee: N Webster

	7 September 2019	Poverty Bay	30–34	North Otago	More FM Rugby Park, Gisborne
	14:30 NZST	Try: Andrew Tauatevalu Scott McKinley Penalty try Con: Andrew Tauatevalu (2/2) Pen: Andrew Tauatevalu (3)	Report	Try: Michael Williams Charles Elton Clymont Gasca Ralph Darling Con: Robbie Smith (4/4) Pen: Robbie Smith (2)	Referee: H Reed

	7 September 2019	South Canterbury	57–7	Horowhenua-Kapiti	Fraser Park, Timaru
	14:30 NZST	Try: Tokomaata Fakatava Cam Russell Joel Smith Kalavini Leatigaga Clarence Moli Zac Saunders Solomone Iavaka Penalty try Con: Willie Wright (6) Theo Davidson (1) Pen: Willie Wright (1)	Report	Try: Scorers unknown[4]	Referee: J Bredin

	7 September 2019	Thames Valley	43–15	East Coast	Paeroa Domain, Paeroa
	14:30 NZST	Try: Danny Kayes (2) Harry Lafituanai (2) Laulea Mau Ben Bonnar Bobby Motuliki Con: Regan Crossland (3) Cole Berridge (1)	Report	Try: Tawhao Stewart Hone Haerewa Epeli Lotawa	Referee: A Mabey

	7 September 2019	Wairarapa Bush	37–31	King Country	Trust House Memorial Park, Masterton
	14:30 NZST	Try: Tristan Flutey (2) Johan van Vliet Ueta Tufuga Brendon Campbell (2) Con: Tipene Haira (1) Tim Priest (1) Pen: Tipene Haira (1)	Report	Try: Brad Armstrong Chulainn Mabbett-Sowerby Alex Thrupp Josh Balme Tayne Tupaea Con: Evaan Reihana (3)	Referee: T Cottrell

	7 September 2019	West Coast	43–41	Mid Canterbury	Rugby Park, Greymouth
	14:30 NZST	Try: Sam Liebezeit (2) Troy Tauwhare Sione Holani Jared Mitchell Logan Winter Amenatave Tukana Con: Todd Struthers (2) Sean McClure (1) Jesse Pitman-Joass (1)	Report	Try: Seta Koroitamana (2) Matt McAtamney Manasa Bari (2) Jackson Donlan Con: Corey McKay (4) Pen: Corey McKay (1)	Referee: J Munro

Finals

Semi-finals

19 October 2019 14:30 NZST

Thames Valley	15-20	Wanganui
Pen: Reece Boughton (5)		Try: Vereniki Tikoisolomone (2) Con: Nick Harding (2) Pen: Nick Harding (2)

Paeroa Domain, Paeroa Referee: Dan Waenga

19 October 2019 14:30 NZST

North Otago	27-25	Wairarapa Bush
Try: Howard Packman (2), Hayden Tisdall, Meli Kolinisau Con: Robbie Smith (2) Pen: Robbie Smith

Whitestone Contracting Stadium Referee: Tipene Cottrell

19 October 2019 14:30 NZST

West Coast	41-35	Poverty Bay

Greymouth Referee: H Reed

19 October 2019 14:30 NZST

Buller	24-56	South Canterbury

Westport Referee: N Webster

Finals

26 October 2019 14:30 NZST

Wanganui	19-33	North Otago

Oamaru Referee: A Mabey

27 October 2019 14:30 NZST

West Coast	19-23	South Canterbury

Greymouth Referee: T Cottrell

Ranfurly shield challenges

Pre-season challenges

For the 2019 preseason Ranfurly Shield holders Otago saw challenges from the reigning 2018 Heartland Championship champions Thames Valley as well as neighbours North Otago.^[5]

	13 July 2019	Otago	41–21	Thames Valley	Wanaka Showgrounds, Wānaka
	14:05 NZST	Try: Sekonaia Pole  40' James Lentjes  45' Ben Miller  52' Aleki Morris  60' Dylan Nel  71' Slade McDowall  80' Con: Ben Miller (4/6)  40', 52', 61', 72' Faddes (0/1) Pen: Ben Miller (1/2)  78'	Report	Try: Harry Lafituanai  29', 75' Con: Reece Broughton (1/1)  30' Cole Berridge (0/1) Pen: Reece Broughton (3/5)  8', 20', 48' Cards: Lance Easton 44' to 54'	Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Nick Webster (New Zealand)

	26 July 2019	Otago	49–14	North Otago	Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru
	14:05 NZST	Try: Vilimoni Koroi 10' c Joshua Dickson 17' c Aleki Morris 37' c Jona Nareki 43' c R. Gouws 62' c S. Mau 72' c James Lentjes 77' c Con: Ash Moeke (7/7) 11', 18', 38', 44', 63', 73', 78' Cards: Sio Tomkinson 27' to 37'	Report	Try: H. Packman 28' c M. Kolinisau 59' c Con: R. Smith (2/2) 29', 60'	Referee: Rebecca Mahoney (New Zealand)[6]

See also

• 2019 Mitre 10 Cup
• Heartland Championship
• New Zealand Heartland XV

References

External links

• Official website of the Heartland Championship