Whanganui certainly suffered from a torrid 2019 Meads semifinal against Valley in Paeroa before losing the final to North Otago. It all points to a crucial final qualifying round of matches.įrom a local viewpoint, it will be interesting to see whether Thames Valley risk injuries to key players by saving them for the Meads final. The playoff for a new trophy for fifth and sixth places, however, is a consolation for teams who miss top four placings. Mid Canterbury (20 points) also come into consideration as Lochore Cup hosts with a home win over second to bottom Buller should both Whanganui and Horowhenua miss out on points. Horowhenua will hold that final with an away win over Poverty Bay should the Swamp Foxes beat Whanganui. The Butcher Boys need at least two points against the TV Swamp Foxes at Te Aroha on Saturday to be assured of a home Lochore final. Unbeaten South Canterbury (maximum 35 points) and Thames Valley (33) are already assured of contesting the Meads Cup final. Whanganui take over third place in the 2021 competition with 25 points, just two clear of Horowhenua-Kapiti and five in front of North Otago and Mid Canterbury.

It was the highest winning score in 15 Heartland games between the two top title-winning unions in the championship, and Whanganui's highest score over a reigning Meads Cup holder, heading off the 40-17 win over Wairarapa-Bush on the same ground in 2007. The Butcher Boys bounced back into silverware contention last Saturday by handing out the heaviest defeat of the season for the Old Golds, the Meads Cup champions. But that all depends on results from the eighth and final qualifying round of fixtures this weekend. After humiliating North Otago by a record 45-12 last weekend, Steelform Whanganui are in the running to host a Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Lochore Cup rugby final.

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