One win could be enough for Southland to progress

• Published date: 05 November 2021
• Publication title: Sports Tab

It holds a one-point lead over Northland, which has also only won one game, in the race for the Championship’s final semifinal spot.

Northland would have to do something special to go ahead of the Stags.

The Taniwha face Hawke’s Bay, arguably the NPC’s best team, which has lost just once all season.

Southland faces an equally strong Championship leader in Taranaki, although that game could be inconsequential.

If Southland and Northland end up tied, the Stags would advance due to winning the match between the two teams.

The other three places — made up by Taranaki, Manawatu and Otago, in that order — are already set.

That would leave Taranaki to face Southland again next week in one semifinal and Manawatu to host Otago in the other.

In the Premiership, there is a much more vicious scrap.

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