2015 ITM Cup

The 2015 ITM Cup season was the 10th season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition since it turned professional in 2006. The regular season began on August 13, when Southland hosted a game against Auckland. It involved the top fourteen rugby unions of New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, the competition is known as the ITM Cup and it is the sixth season under the lead sponsor. The winner of the Championship will be promoted to the Premiership, the 7th placed Premiership team will be relegated to the Championship.[1]

2015 ITM Cup season
Countries New Zealand
Date13 August – 24 October 2015
ChampionsCanterbury
Runners-upAuckland
PromotedHawke's Bay
RelegatedManawatu
Matches played76
Tries scored498
(average 6.6 per match)
Top point scorerTom Taylor (Canterbury)
144 points
Top try scorerGeorge Moala (Auckland)
10 tries
Official website
itmcup.co.nz

Format

The Mitre 10 Cup standings are sorted by a competition points system. Four points are awarded to the winning team, a draw equals to two points, whilst a loss amounts to zero points. Unions can also win their side a respectable bonus point. To receive a bonus point, they must score four tries or more or lose by seven or fewer points or less.[2] Each team is placed on their total points received. If necessary of a tiebreaker, when two or more teams finish on equal points, the union who defeated the other in a head-to-head gets placed higher. In case of a draw between them, the side with the biggest points deferential margin will get rights to be ranked above. If they are tied on points difference, it is then decided by a highest scored try count or a coin toss.[3] This seeding format has been implemented since the beginning of the 2006 competition.

The competition included a promotion-relegation process with the winner of the Championship receiving automatic promotion to the Premiership replacing the seventh-placed team in the Premiership which is relegated to the Championship for the following year. The regular season consisted of two types of matches. The internal division matches are when each team played the other six unions in their division once, home or away. The cross-division matches are when each team played four teams from the other division, thus missing out on three teams, each from the opposite division. Each union played home or away games against teams from the other division, making a total of ten competition games for each union.[4] The finals format allows the top four teams from each division move on to the semi-finals. The top two division winners, based on table points, received a home semi-final. In the first round of the finals, the semi-finals, the second division winner hosted the third division winner, and the first division winner hosted the fourth division winner. The final was hosted by the top remaining seed.[5]

Standings

Standings progression

Premiership
Team W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9
Auckland 2
(4th)
7
(3rd)
8
(4th)
13
(4th)
23
(3rd)
27
(3rd)
28
(3rd)
33
(2nd)
37
(2nd)
Canterbury 5
(2nd)
9
(2nd)
14
(2nd)
19
(2nd)
24
(2nd)
28
(2nd)
33
(1st)
38
(1st)
43
(1st)
Counties Manukau 5
(3rd)
6
(4th)
6
(5th)
8
(6th)
8
(7th)
13
(6th)
18
(5th)
23
(5th)
23
(5th)
Manawatu 2
(5th)
3
(6th)
3
(7th)
3
(7th)
9
(6th)
9
(7th)
14
(7th)
14
(7th)
19
(7th)
Taranaki 1
(6th)
2
(7th)
4
(6th)
13
(3rd)
18
(4th)
23
(4th)
27
(4th)
32
(3rd)
32
(4th)
Tasman 5
(1st)
10
(1st)
15
(1st)
20
(1st)
25
(1st)
30
(1st)
30
(2nd)
30
(4th)
35
(3rd)
Waikato 0
(7th)
4
(5th)
9
(3rd)
10
(5th)
14
(5th)
14
(5th)
16
(6th)
16
(6th)
21
(6th)
Championship
Team W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9
Bay of Plenty 4
(2nd)
4
(4th)
8
(3rd)
13
(3rd)
13
(3rd)
14
(3rd)
19
(3rd)
19
(4th)
19
(4th)
Hawke's Bay 5
(1st)
10
(1st)
15
(1st)
20
(1st)
20
(1st)
24
(1st)
28
(1st)
35
(1st)
37
(1st)
North Harbour 0
(5th)
0
(7th)
4
(6th)
5
(6th)
9
(4th)
10
(6th)
10
(6th)
12
(6th)
17
(5th)
Northland 0
(7th)
0
(6th)
0
(7th)
0
(7th)
0
(7th)
0
(7th)
0
(7th)
0
(7th)
1
(7th)
Otago 0
(6th)
0
(5th)
5
(5th)
5
(5th)
7
(6th)
12
(5th)
17
(4th)
22
(3rd)
32
(3rd)
Southland 2
(4th)
6
(3rd)
7
(4th)
7
(4th)
8
(5th)
13
(4th)
13
(5th)
14
(5th)
14
(6th)
Wellington 4
(3rd)
9
(2nd)
14
(2nd)
19
(2nd)
19
(2nd)
21
(2nd)
25
(2nd)
32
(2nd)
34
(2nd)

The table above shows a team's progression throughout the season.
For each week, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall division log position in brackets.
Key: win draw loss bye

Regular season

The 2015 ITM Cup played across nine weeks with every team playing one Wednesday night fixture in a double-up round where they played twice that week. The competition started on Thursday, August 13, with Southland taking on Auckland at Rugby Park Stadium. The last matchup of the beginning week saw Hawke's Bay host Northland for the competitions first Ranfurly Shield defense.[6]

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Play-offs

Semi-finals


16 October 2015
19:35 NZST
Auckland 44–24 Tasman
Try: Ioane 8' c
Lam 21' c
Heem 47' c
Nanai 54' c
Moala 77' c
Con: S. Hickey (4/4) 9', 22', 48', 55'
J. Hickey (1/1) 78'
Pen: S. Hickey (2/5) 15', 28'
J. Hickey (1/1) 65'
Report Try: Fonotia 57' c
Renata 67' c
Ainley 71' c
Con: Banks (3/3) 58', 67', 72'
Pen: Havili (1/3) 25'
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
17 October 2015
14:35 NZST
Hawke's Bay 33–26 Bay of Plenty
Try: Buckman 1' c
O'Connor 45' c
West 57' c
Con: West (3/3) 2', 46', 58'
Pen: West (4/4) 16', 40', 68', 71'
Report Try: Bardoul (3) 25' m, 32' m, 37' m
Fraser 76' m
Con: Evemy (0/3)
Hollinshead (0/1)
Pen: Evemy (1/1) 8'
Hollinshead (1/1) 61'
McLean Park, Napier
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
17 October 2015
17:05 NZST
Canterbury 46–20 Taranaki
Try: Thompson (2) 34' c, 52' c
Suckling 44' c
Funnell 59' c
Con: Taylor (4/4) 35', 45', 53', 60'
Pen: Taylor (6/6) 10', 13', 31', 38', 50', 70'
Report Try: Ormond 32' m
Baker 48' m
Penalty try 63' c
Con: Rei (1/3) 63'
Pen: Rei (1/1) 17'
AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
17 October 2015
19:35 NZST
Wellington 34–14 Otago
Try: Wilson 10' c
Karawana 20' c
Savea 54' c
Bentley 78' c
Con: Garden-Bachop (4/4) 11', 21', 55', 79'
Pen: Garden-Bachop (2/2) 6', 62'
Try: Lentjes 33' c
Knight 73' c
Con: Breen (1/1) 34'
Smith (1/1) 74'
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 3,178
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Finals


23 October 2015
19:35 NZST
Hawke's Bay 26–25 Wellington
Try: Fruean 40' c
Emerson 77' c
Con: West (2/2) 40', 78'
Pen: West (4/4) 11', 15', 34', 45'
Report Try: Wilson 1' c
Jane (2) 29' c, 68' m
Con: Garden-Bachop (2/3) 2', 30'
Pen: Garden-Bachop (2/3) 20', 27'
McLean Park, Napier
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
24 October 2015
19:35 NZST
Canterbury 25–23 Auckland
Try: Osborne 1' m
Bird 8' c
Crotty 17' c
Con: Taylor (2/3) 9', 18'
Pen: Taylor (2/3) 44', 67'
Report Try: Pleasants-Tate 14' c
Karpik 46' c
Con: Hickey (2/2) 15', 47'
Pen: Hickey (3/3) 22', 29', 41'
AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
FB15Tom Taylor
RW14Johnny McNicholl
OC13Ryan Crotty
IC12Rob Thompson
LW11Patrick Osborne
FH10Richie Mo'unga
SH9Mitchell Drummond
N88Luke Whitelock (c)
OF7Matt Todd
BF6Reed Prinsep 58'
RL5Dominic Bird
LL4Mitchell Dunshea 69'
TP3Nepo Laulala 68'
HK2Ben Funnell
LP1Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements:
HK16Ged Robinson
PR17Alex Hodgman
PR18Siate Tokolahi 68'
LK19Ben Matwijow 69'
FL20Tom Sanders 58'
SH21Jack Stratton
FH22Cameron McIntyre
WG23Marshall Suckling
FB15Charles Piutau
RW14Bryce Heem
OC13Vince Aso 62'
IC12George Moala
LW11Ben Lam
FH10Simon Hickey (c)
SH9Kaito Shigeno 51'
N88Akira Ioane
OF7Mitchell Karpik
BF6Joe Edwards
RL5Scott Scrafton 7' to 17' 71'
LL4Michael Fatialofa
TP3Ofa Tu'ungafasi
HK2Greg Pleasants-Tate 60'
LP1Isileli Tu'ungafasi 60'
Replacements:
HK16Kurt Eklund 60'
PR17Tom McHugh 60'
PR18Jono Owen
LK19William Lloyd 71'
N820Matthew Matich
SH21Jono Hickey 51'
FH22Mitchell Hunt
FB23Lolagi Visinia 62'

Statistics

Leading point scorers

No.PlayerTeamPointsAverageDetails
1Tom TaylorCanterbury14412.001 T, 29 C, 27 P, 0 D
2Ihaia WestHawke's Bay13411.173 T, 28 C, 21 P, 0 D
3Marty BanksTasman12412.402 T, 24 C, 22 P, 0 D
4Simon HickeyAuckland12010.911 T, 26 C, 21 P, 0 D
5Damian McKenzieWaikato11511.503 T, 20 C, 19 P, 1 D
6Codey ReiTaranaki978.822 T, 27 C, 11 P, 0 D
7Peter BreenOtago848.402 T, 19 C, 11 P, 1 D
8Piers FrancisCounties Manukau778.560 T, 13 C, 17 P, 0 D
9Otere BlackManawatu767.600 T, 32 C, 4 P, 0 D
10Lima SopoagaSouthland6911.501 T, 14 C, 12 P, 0 D

Source: itmcup.co.nz/Stats

Leading try scorers

No.PlayerTeamTriesAverage
1George MoalaAuckland100.83
2Rob ThompsonCanterbury100.83
3Naulia DawaiOtago70.64
4Brad WeberWaikato70.78
5Matt FaddesOtago60.60
6Vaea FifitaWellington60.60
7Callum GibbinsManawatu60.67
8Ben LamAuckland60.55
9Michael LittleNorth Harbour60.60
10Brendon O'ConnorHawke's Bay60.55

Source: itmcup.co.nz/Stats

Points by week

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total Average
Auckland 23 23 30 24 21 27 50 28 80 57 28 19 12 17 64 21 31 16 339 232 33.90 23.20
Bay of Plenty 20 11 13 34 36 53 37 26 9 32 17 23 37 5 13 31 30 43 212 258 21.20 25.80
Canterbury 38 24 20 15 27 21 57 7 29 14 17 10 39 41 41 25 39 20 307 177 30.70 17.70
Counties Manukau 36 35 15 20 11 35 36 54 20 28 42 17 42 33 30 9 16 31 248 262 24.80 26.20
Hawke's Bay 39 10 39 22 35 11 48 32 14 29 23 17 17 12 57 50 30 36 302 219 30.20 21.90
Manawatu 35 36 21 28 21 41 7 57 70 62 14 49 31 17 10 44 39 33 248 367 24.80 36.70
North Harbour 11 20 0 43 26 25 32 48 28 20 30 56 17 31 32 39 36 12 212 294 21.20 29.40
Northland 10 39 18 27 0 29 7 50 17 42 17 42 5 37 21 64 48 90 143 420 14.30 42.00
Otago 24 38 22 39 34 27 17 34 29 35 37 36 61 7 39 32 97 66 360 314 36.00 31.40
Southland 23 23 27 18 35 52 3 53 25 30 49 14 7 61 28 35 20 39 217 325 21.70 32.50
Taranaki 14 19 24 30 27 34 67 17 32 9 41 0 24 21 44 10 17 35 290 175 29.00 17.50
Tasman 35 20 34 13 41 21 34 17 36 17 58 48 33 42 25 41 35 17 331 236 33.10 23.60
Waikato 20 35 28 21 43 10 28 50 30 25 0 41 31 39 9 30 36 30 225 281 22.50 28.10
Wellington 19 14 43 0 29 0 53 3 17 36 36 37 21 14 53 35 33 39 304 178 30.40 17.80

Tries by week

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total Average
Auckland 2 2 4 2 2 4 7 4 9 8 3 1 0 2 10 3 3 2 40 28 4.00 2.80
Bay of Plenty 3 1 1 4 3 7 5 4 0 4 2 3 4 1 1 5 3 6 22 35 2.20 3.50
Canterbury 4 3 1 2 4 2 9 1 4 2 2 1 4 5 5 3 5 2 38 21 3.80 2.10
Counties Manukau 5 5 2 1 1 4 5 7 2 3 5 1 5 3 4 0 2 3 31 27 3.10 2.70
Hawke's Bay 6 1 6 3 4 1 6 5 2 4 3 2 2 0 7 6 4 5 40 27 4.00 2.70
Manawatu 5 5 3 3 3 4 1 9 10 7 2 6 4 2 1 5 5 5 34 46 3.40 4.60
North Harbour 1 3 0 6 2 3 5 6 3 2 3 8 2 4 4 4 5 2 25 38 2.50 3.80
Northland 1 6 2 3 0 4 1 7 2 6 1 5 1 4 3 10 8 13 19 58 1.90 5.80
Otago 3 4 3 6 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 8 1 4 4 14 9 47 40 4.70 4.00
Southland 2 2 3 2 4 4 0 8 3 3 6 2 1 8 3 4 2 5 24 38 2.40 3.80
Taranaki 1 3 2 4 4 4 9 2 4 0 5 0 3 2 5 1 2 4 35 20 3.50 2.00
Tasman 4 1 4 1 4 3 4 3 4 3 7 5 3 5 3 5 4 2 37 28 3.70 2.80
Waikato 1 4 3 3 6 1 4 7 3 3 0 5 3 4 0 4 5 4 25 35 2.50 3.50
Wellington 3 1 6 0 4 0 8 0 3 4 4 4 2 1 8 4 5 5 43 19 4.30 1.90
Offensive Defensive

Sanctions

Player Team Red Yellow Suspended for match(es):
Jamie Mackintosh Southland11 vs. Wellington & Otago
Matt Talaese Northland10 vs. Southland
Ardie Savea Wellington02 vs. Southland & Otago
Ben Tameifuna Waikato02 vs. Canterbury & Hawke's Bay
Johan Bardoul Bay of Plenty02 vs. Counties Manukau & Otago
Marty Banks Tasman01 vs. Waikato
Kurt Baker Taranaki01 vs. Wellington
Brad Shields Wellington01 vs. Taranaki
Jayden Spence Otago01 vs. Canterbury
Nafi Tuitavake North Harbour01 vs. Wellington
Ross Geldenhuys Tasman01 vs. Bay of Plenty
Hamiora Thomas Manawatu01 vs. Waikato
Jordan Payne Waikato01 vs. Manawatu
Tawera Kerr-Barlow Waikato01 vs. Manawatu
Pauliasi Manu Counties Manukau01 vs. Canterbury
Shane Christie Tasman01 vs. Manawatu
Ben Funnell Canterbury01 vs. Auckland
Mitchell Graham Taranaki01 vs. Otago
Culum Retallick Bay of Plenty01 vs. Waikato
Ma'ama Vaipulu Counties Manukau01 vs. Taranaki
Akira Ioane Auckland01 vs. Waikato
Sam Vaka Counties Manukau01 vs. North Harbour
Chris Vui North Harbour01 vs. Counties Manukau
Mitchell Crosswell Taranaki01 vs. Bay of Plenty
Zak Hohneck Bay of Plenty01 vs. Hawke's Bay
Josh Goodhue Northland01 vs. Counties Manukau
Sam Nock Northland01 vs. Counties Manukau
Trent Renata Tasman01 vs. Auckland
Jono Hickey Auckland01 vs. Tasman
Jono Kitto Bay of Plenty01 vs. Northland
Joe Tupe Bay of Plenty01 vs. Northland
David Havili Tasman01 vs. Counties Manukau
Robbie Malneek Tasman01 vs. Counties Manukau
Sam Henwood Counties Manukau01 vs. Tasman
Alex Woonton North Harbour01 vs. Manawatu
Jason Woodward Wellington01 vs. Hawke's Bay
Chris Eaton Hawke's Bay01 vs. Wellington
Peni Iowane Waikato01 vs. Counties Manukau
Marshall Suckling Canterbury01 vs. Tasman
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis Manawatu01 vs. Taranaki
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen Wellington01 vs. Bay of Plenty
Ben May Wellington01 vs. Bay of Plenty
Fletcher Smith Otago01 vs. Northland
Zac Guildford Hawke's Bay01 vs. Waikato
Johnny McNicholl Canterbury01 vs. Taranaki
Scott Scrafton Auckland01 vs. Canterbury

Ranfurly Shield

Pre-season challenges

Hawke's Bay won the Ranfurly Shield when they defeated Counties Manuaku in August 2014, and subsequently made four successful defenses. Hawke's Bay announced their first three defenses against Wairarapa Bush, Horowhenua-Kapiti, and Meads Cup winners Mid Canterbury after receiving six Heartland Championship offers.[7]

In the first challenge, Hawke's Bay were missing players due to Super Rugby and international duties but managed to score forty-one unanswered second-half points which saw them safely retain the shield, winning 58–7 at McLean Park. Prop Jarvy Aoake scored from close range to open the scoring with their second try coming from fullback Zac Guildford and Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald kicked every conversion and penalty. Wairarapa Bush flanker Brock Price was awarded a try after chasing a kick downfield. Shannan Chase, Billy Ropiha, and Brendon O'Connor also scored tries with Jonah Lowe completing the scoring, in the final minute.[8]

Again Hawke's Bay was missing players plus their coach also. Horowhenua-Kapiti were within four points with 15 minutes to play in Napier for the second Ranfurly Shield challenge. They dominated the opening half with Perry Hayman kicking three-from-three penalty shots at goal. Hawke's Bay although was in control with a dominant scrum and tries to Joseph Penitito and American Tony Lamborn. Sam Gardner scored for Horowhenua-Kapiti which brought the game back to within four points. But captain Antony Fox was then sent to the sin bin for a cynical infringement during a Hawke's Bay drive on his own try line which caused three Hawke's Bay penalties and tries to Shannan Chase, Tom Stanley and Mark Braidwood.[9]

9 July 2015
14:35 NZST
Hawke's Bay 58–7 Wairarapa Bush
Try: Aoake 7' c
Guildford (2) 20' c, 66' c
Chase 46' c
Ropiha 49' c
Elkington-MacDonald 60' c
O'Connor 63' m
Lowe 79' m
Con: Elkington-MacDonald (5/5) 9', 21', 48', 51', 61'
West (1/3) 67'
Pen: Elkington-MacDonald (2/2) 17', 43'
Report Try: Price 31' c
Con: Priest (1/1) 33'
McLean Park, Napier
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
16 July 2015
19:35 NZST
Hawke's Bay 50–16 Horowhenua-Kapiti
Try: Penitito (2) 13' m, 39' m
Lamborn 21' c
Chase 75' c
Stanley 78' c
Braidwood 80' c
Con: Elkington-MacDonald (4/6) 22', 76', 78', 80'
Pen: Elkington-MacDonald (4/4) 49', 66', 72', 74'
Preview
Report
Try: Gardner 61' c
Con: Hayman (1/1) 63'
Pen: Hayman (3/3) 7', 33', 38'
McLean Park, Napier
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
23 July 2015
19:35 NZST
Hawke's Bay 57–12 Mid Canterbury
Try: Chase 29' m
Lowe (2) 55' m, 56' c
O'Connor 65' c
Lamborn 68' c
Guildford 70' c
Tongia 77' c
Con: Elkington-MacDonald (0/1)
West (5/6) 57', 66', 69', 71', 78'
Pen: Elkington-MacDonald (3/4) 13', 26', 49'
West (1/1) 54'
Report Pen: Williams (4/4) 5', 38', 44', 45'
McLean Park, Napier
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

References

  1. "Manawatu promoted to the ITM Cup Premiership". allblacks.com. 24 October 2014. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  2. "Adjustment to Mitre 10 Heartland Championship bonus points system". Rugby Heartland. 2 September 2016.
  3. "NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION Competition Regulations Handbook 2016" (pdf). New Zealand Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  4. "2010 ITM Cup Competition Structures". Manawatu Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  5. "ITM Cup Finals schedule". allblacks.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  6. "ITM Cup draw for 2015 confirmed". itmcup.co.nz. 7 August 2015.
  7. "Magpies confirm first Ranfurly Shield opponents". espn.co.uk. 12 November 2014.
  8. "Hawke's Bay see off Wairarapa-Bush to retain Ranfurly Shield". stuff.co.nz. 19 July 2015.
  9. "Horowhenua-Kapiti push Hawke's Bay all the way in Ranfurly Shield challenge". stuff.co.nz. 16 July 2015.
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