2009 Heartland Championship

The 2009 Heartland Championship was the fourth Heartland Championship, a provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand involving the country's 12 amateur rugby unions, since it was reorganised in 2006. The round-robin ran from 29 August to 17 October[1][2] with 30 games in round one and 18 games in round two for a total of 48 games being played through the round-robin, after which the teams went into the playoffs. In the playoffs, the top four teams from each pool in round two went on to semifinals, and then a grand final for each pool was played on 31 October.

2009 Heartland Championship
Date29 August 2009 (2009-08-29)–31 October 2009 (2009-10-31)
CountriesNew Zealand New Zealand
Final positions
ChampionsWanganui (Meads Cup)
North Otago (Lochore Cup)
Runner-upMid Canterbury (Meads Cup)
West Coast (Lochore Cup)
2008
2010

Wanganui won their second consecutive Meads Cup,[3] each coming by defeating Mid Canterbury in the final.[4] Wanganui was a Meads Cup finalist in each of the first four years of the Heartland Championship. North Otago defeated West Coast in the Lochore Cup final.[5] North Otago is the only team to win both the Meads Cup (2007) and the Lochore Cup. This was West Coast's first finals appearance in any provincial championship.

Pool stage

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The pool stage ran for eight weeks from 29 August to 17 October. Teams were assigned to one of two pools, based on their performance in the 2008 season. The pool stage was split into two rounds; round 1 ran for five weeks with each team playing five games, while round 2 ran for three weeks. The top three teams from each pool qualified for the Meads Cup pool and the bottom three teams from each pool qualified for the Lochore Cup pool. Teams faced the three other teams that they did not play in round 1. Competition points were carried over from round 1 to round 2.

Round 1

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Pool A

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Qualified for Meads Cup
Qualified for Lochore Cup
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD BP1 BP2 Pts
1 Wanganui 5 4 0 1 146 71 +75 3 1 20
2 Horowhenua-Kapiti 5 4 0 1 135 74 +61 2 0 18
3 Wairarapa Bush 5 3 0 2 104 66 +38 0 2 14
4 West Coast 5 3 0 2 91 117 −26 0 0 12
5 Buller 5 1 0 4 100 93 +7 1 3 8
6 East Coast 5 0 0 5 49 204 −155 0 0 0

Pool B

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD BP1 BP2 Pts
1 Poverty Bay 5 4 0 1 111 87 +24 1 1 18
2 Mid Canterbury 5 4 0 1 115 94 +21 0 1 17
3 South Canterbury 5 3 0 2 88 93 −5 0 1 13
4 North Otago 5 2 0 3 143 87 +56 2 1 11
5 King Country 5 2 0 3 100 111 −11 1 1 9
6 Thames Valley 5 0 0 5 80 165 −85 0 3 3

Fixtures

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There will be a total of 48 matches throughout the pool stage in the 2009 Heartland Championship, 30 in Round 1 and 18 in Round 2.

Round 1
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Pool Home Score Away Match information
Date and time Venue
A West Coast 13–10 Wairarapa Bush 29 August 2009, 2:35 p.m. Greymouth
A Buller 13–17 Horowhenua-Kapiti 29 August 2009, 2:35 p.m. Westport
A Wanganui 46–6 East Coast 29 August 2009, 2:35 p.m. Wanganui
B Mid Canterbury 26–24 Thames Valley 29 August 2009, 2:35 p.m. Ashburton
B King Country 20–26 Poverty Bay 29 August 2009, 2:35 p.m. Taupō
B North Otago 22–26 South Canterbury 29 August 2009, 2:35 p.m. Oamaru
Round 2
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Pool Home Score Away Match information
Date and time Venue
A Wairarapa Bush 21–17 Wanganui 5 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Masterton
A Horowhenua-Kapiti 33–9 West Coast 5 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Levin
A Buller 47–9 East Coast 5 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Westport
B South Canterbury 13–16 Mid Canterbury 5 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Timaru
B King Country 35–13 Thames Valley 5 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Te Kūiti
B Poverty Bay 18–10 North Otago 5 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Gisborne
Round 3
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Pool Home Score Away Match information
Date and time Venue
A West Coast 26–20 Buller 12 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Greymouth
A East Coast 10–33 Wairarapa Bush 12 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Ruatoria
A Wanganui 37–28 Horowhenua-Kapiti 12 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Wanganui
B Thames Valley 18–20 South Canterbury 12 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Paeroa
B North Otago 35–10 King Country 12 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Oamaru
B Mid Canterbury 19–24 Poverty Bay 12 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Ashburton
Round 4
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Pool Home Score Away Match information
Date and time Venue
A Buller 7-13 Wanganui 19 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Westport
A Horowhenua-Kapiti 13-12 Wairarapa Bush 19 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Levin
A West Coast 34-21 East Coast 19 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Greymouth
B King Country 12-24 Mid Canterbury 19 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Te Kūiti
B Poverty Bay 14-16 South Canterbury 19 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Gisborne
B North Otago 55-3 Thames Valley 19 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Oamaru
Round 5
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Pool Home Score Away Match information
Date and time Venue
A Wairarapa Bush 28–13 Buller 26 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Masterton
A Wanganui 33–9 West Coast 26 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Wanganui
A East Coast 3–44 Horowhenua-Kapiti 26 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Ruatoria
B Thames Valley 22–27 Poverty Bay 26 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Paeroa
B South Canterbury 13–23 King Country 26 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Timaru
B Mid Canterbury 30–21 North Otago 26 September 2009, 2:35 p.m. Ashburton

Round two

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With the teams split into their respective cup pools, the teams faced each opponent that they did not play in Round One, with the top four teams moving on to the semifinals of their respective groups.

Lochore Cup Pool

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Qualified for semifinals
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD BP1 BP2 Pts
1 West Coast 8 5 0 3 166 159 +7 1 0 21
2 North Otago 8 4 0 4 252 144 +108 3 1 20
3 King Country 8 4 0 4 199 158 +41 2 2 20
4 Buller 8 3 0 5 163 156 +7 2 3 17
5 East Coast 8 1 0 7 87 337 −250 0 0 4
6 Thames Valley 8 0 0 8 110 237 −127 0 4 4
  • North Otago ranked ahead of King Country and East Coast ranked ahead of Thames Valley based on head-to-head results.

Meads Cup Pool

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD BP1 BP2 Pts
1 Mid Canterbury 8 7 0 1 196 133 +63 1 1 30
2 Wanganui 8 6 0 2 275 108 +167 5 1 30
3 Poverty Bay 8 6 0 2 154 181 −27 1 1 26
4 South Canterbury 8 5 0 3 169 198 −29 1 1 22
5 Horowhenua-Kapiti 8 4 0 4 193 166 +27 2 1 19
6 Wairarapa Bush 8 3 0 5 155 142 +13 1 4 17
  • Mid Canterbury ranked ahead of Wanganui based on head-to-head results.

Fixtures

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Round 6
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Pool Home Score Away Match information
Date and time Venue
L West Coast 27–3 Thames Valley 3 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Greymouth
L North Otago 63–8 East Coast 3 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Oamaru
L King Country 17–20 Buller 3 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Te Kūiti
M Horowhenua-Kapiti 19–34 Mid Canterbury 3 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Levin
M Wanganui 59–14 South Canterbury 3 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Wanganui
M Poverty Bay 18–17 Wairarapa Bush 3 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Gisborne
Round 7
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Pool Home Score Away Match information
Date and time Venue
L Thames Valley 10–16 East Coast 10 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Te Aroha
L North Otago 29–14 Buller 10 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Oamaru
L King Country 22–13 West Coast 10 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Taupō
M Poverty Bay 25–21 Horowhenua-Kapiti 10 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Gisborne
M Mid Canterbury 23–14 Wanganui 10 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Ashburton
M South Canterbury 34–28 Wairarapa Bush 10 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Gisborne
Round 8
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Pool Home Score Away Match information
Date and time Venue
L East Coast 14–60 King Country 17 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Ruatoria
L Buller 29–17 Thames Valley 17 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Westport
L West Coast 35–17 North Otago 17 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Greymouth
M Wanganui 56–0 Poverty Bay 17 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Wanganui
M Wairarapa Bush 6–24 Mid Canterbury 17 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Masterton
M Horowhenua-Kapiti 18–33 South Canterbury 17 October 2009, 2:35 p.m. Levin

Knockout stage

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Lochore Cup

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Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
24 October – Greymouth
 
 
West Coast53
 
31 October – Greymouth
 
Buller22
 
West Coast13
 
24 October – Oamaru
 
North Otago21
 
North Otago31
 
 
King Country27
 

Semifinals

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Home Score Away Match information
Date Venue
West Coast 53–22 Buller 24 October 2009 Greymouth
North Otago 31–27 King Country 24 October 2009 Oamaru

Final

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Home Score Away Match information
Date Venue
West Coast 13–21 North Otago 31 October 2009 Greymouth

Meads Cup

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Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
24 October – Ashburton
 
 
Mid Canterbury19
 
31 October – Christchurch
 
South Canterbury17
 
Mid Canterbury13
 
24 October – Wanganui
 
Wanganui34
 
Wanganui48
 
 
Poverty Bay13
 

Semifinals

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Home Score Away Match information
Date Venue
Mid Canterbury 19–17 South Canterbury 24 October 2008 Ashburton
Wanganui 48–13 Poverty Bay 24 October 2008 Wanganui

Final

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Home Score Away Match information
Date Venue
Mid Canterbury 13–34 Wanganui 31 October 2009 Christchurch

Statistics

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As of week 6 of the season, there were 1,559 points scored over 36 games, including 167 tries, with an average of 43.3 points per game.

North Otago has scored the most points this season with 206 points, and along with Wanganui, they have also scored the most tries with 29 each. Wairarapa Bush have given up the fewest points so far with 84.

2009 Heartland Championship statistics
Overall Team
Points scored 1,559 Most points for North Otago (206)
Average 43.3 per game Fewest points against Wairarapa Bush (84)
Tries scored 167 Most tries Wanganui (29)
North Otago (29)

Points

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The table showing how many points scored by each team (white) and how many points each team was scored against them (grey) in the 2009 Heartland Championship. North Otago have currently scored the most points with 206, while Wairarapa Bush have given up the fewest points with 84.

Team Points by round Total Avg
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Buller 13 17 47 9 20 26 7 13 13 28 20 17 120 110 20 18.3
East Coast 6 46 9 47 10 33 21 34 3 44 8 63 57 267 9.5 44.5
Horowhenua-Kapiti 17 13 33 9 28 37 13 12 44 3 19 34 154 108 25.7 18
King Country 20 26 35 13 10 35 12 24 23 13 17 20 117 131 19.5 21.8
Mid Canterbury 26 24 16 13 19 24 24 12 30 21 34 19 149 113 24.8 18.8
North Otago 22 26 10 18 35 10 55 3 21 30 63 8 206 95 34.3 15.8
Poverty Bay 26 20 18 10 24 19 14 16 27 22 18 17 127 104 21.2 17.3
South Canterbury 26 22 13 16 20 18 16 14 13 23 14 59 102 152 17 25.3
Thames Valley 24 26 13 35 18 20 3 55 22 27 3 27 83 190 13.8 31.7
Wairarapa Bush 10 13 21 17 33 10 12 13 28 13 17 18 121 84 20.2 14
Wanganui 46 6 17 21 37 28 13 7 33 9 59 14 205 85 34.2 14.2
West Coast 13 10 9 33 26 20 34 21 9 33 27 3 118 120 19.7 20
249 241 280 224 266 299 1559 43.3
Overall
For Against

Tries

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Wanganui and North Otago have scored the most tries this season with 29, while East Coast and Thames Valley have scored the fewest tries with four each.

Team Total Tries by round
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Buller 14 2 7 1 1 1 2
East Coast 4 0 0 1 2 0 1
Horowhenua-Kapiti 18 3 4 1 1 6 3
King Country 12 2 4 1 0 3 2
Mid Canterbury 16 2 1 3 3 3 4
North Otago 29 3 1 4 8 2 11
Poverty Bay 13 2 2 2 1 4 2
South Canterbury 9 2 1 2 1 1 2
Thames Valley 4 0 1 2 0 1 0
Wairarapa Bush 10 1 2 3 0 3 1
Wanganui 29 8 2 5 1 4 9
West Coast 9 1 0 2 3 0 3
167 26 25 27 21 28 40
Team and round total
Overall total

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Heartland Championship schedule released". RNZ. 8 March 2009.
  2. ^ "Rugby: No clear-cut favourite for Heartland title". The Otago Times. 28 August 2009.
  3. ^ "Wanganui RFU – 2009". Wanganui Rugby Union.
  4. ^ "Contrasting Paths To Heartland Rugby Finals". Voxy. Fuseworks Media. 25 October 2009.
  5. ^ O'Neill, Terry (2 November 2009). "Rugby: Mullins' men bring A game out in final". The Otago Times.
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