It was my intention to be able to continue the weekly ITM Cup Preview (in the same format) over the next month while at sea. However when I looked at the scale of the task (and the tariff) it became evident it would be next to impossible due to cost and all the distractions on board. So I’ve held my hand up and admitted defeat early in the voyage.
Without boring you with my life story, (which incidentally should be available in paperback and available at all good bookstores for £9.95 by the end of the month). My family and I are emigrating back to New Zealand after 10 great years living in Hertford in the UK.
We are fortunate in the fact that we are not rushing back on a 24 hour flight from Heathrow, and are cruising home on the Pacific Princess, which will take a month and drop us off in our hometown of Dunedin (Otago), New Zealand.
My family and I have never cruised before, so we are learning the ropes as we go. It really is a wonderful way to travel with all the luxuries and conviences you could ever wish for, however you do pay for them. The point I’m really trying to make is that if I paid for the internet access that I use in compiling our ITM Cup Previews on a weekly basis. I would be more broke than I already am upon disembarkment in Port Chalmers, Dunedin.
So my plan is this. I will do my best to keep as much as possible to the existing template in the coming weeks, however I won’t include and update team news and team lists as they become available. This week’s article is a totally different format, but next week I hope normal service will resume (well kind of).
The article may also lack its regular highlighting and italicing – something I know you all look forward to.
So that’s the plan, however the proof will be in the pudding.
When I get my feet back on ‘Terra Firma’, I will look to get back into the groove.
ITM Cup Round 9
This week’s action is chocked full of mouth watering-clashes. Let’s just hope the elements don’t have as much of an influence as they did last week. We kick the round off with a huge North v South Ranfurly Shield clash, with table topping Southland defended the log against an Auckland side that has welded in the heavy artillery for the encounter. Canterbury versus Wellington will also be a tasty affair on Saturday.
Game 57 Southland v Auckland Prediction: Southland by 1-5 points
Auckland’s form has been a little scratchy in recent weeks but they will be well motivated for this one. With potentially several All Blacks back, they should be in with a real chance here, but I’m sticking with the ‘Stags’ (just).
Game 58 Bay of Plenty v Otago Prediction: Bay of Plenty by 5-10 points
Bay of Plenty got out of jail last week to steal a 24-21 win over Counties-Manukau. They will be looking for an easier route to victory this week against an out of sorts Otago side.
Game 59 Canterbury v Wellington Prediction: Canterbury by 5-10 points
Clash of the super heavyweights. Both sides are in need of victory just to keep their play-off ambitions alive.
Game 60 Hawke’s Bay v Taranaki Prediction: Taranaki by 10-15 points
Taranaki were tipped out at the start of the season as potential First Division material, and they sure have lived up to that billing. They rounded off the union’s 125th anniversary celebrations in New Plymouth last week by out-scoring the champions by five tries to two. This although away from home, should be another notch in their belt.
Game 61 Waikato v Tasman Prediction: Waikato by 10-15 points
Waikato were held ‘try less’ (is that a word) last week at home and will be seriously looking to make amends this weekend.
Game 62 North Harbour v Manawatu Prediction: North Harbour by 10-15 points
Craig Dowd and Jeff Wilson are really starting to earn their ‘corn’ with this Harbour outfit – which looks to have plenty left in the tank.
Game 63 Counties-Manukau v Northland Prediction: Counties-Manukau by 1-5 points
This really could go either way. Both sides are locked in a mid table battle, making this a must win, to stay in touch with the competition leaders. The Bombay Boy’s for me to bounce back after losing last week at the hands of BOP.
Over the next four weeks I will try to keep the ‘Preview’ afloat. I am however quite excited that my next full article will come to you from Dunedin, and I am hoping to drop into ‘Sharksworld’ now and again to touch base.
When finally Down Under, I will have to come to grips with reading the ‘Sharksworld’ developments while you’re all asleep, something that will obviously take time to adjust to. Looking forward to blogging with all again soon.
Until Dunedin !
Yours in Rugby
HH
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Thank you for still doind an article HH. We appreciate it!
Don’t worry about us HH, enjoy the cruise.
7 out of 7 is the same, even the margins are close 😈
Southland 0 – 0 Auckland
10 minutes
Southland 3 – 0 Auckland
32 minutes
very entertaining game.. yawn..
Southland 3 – 3 Auckland
HALF TIME
Go Southland ❗
Southland 6 – 6 Auckland
45 minutes
Southland 6 – 6 Auckland
70 minutes
Southland 9 – 6 Auckland
73 minutes
Southland 9 – 6 Auckland
FULL TIME
I have Southland by 2 😎
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 10) : looks like another exciting game by Southland 🙄
and I was led to believe that NZ rugby is the running one when Sa teams just kick
Fulltime
Bay o Plenty 40 – 30 Otago
Margin – 10
2 from 2 and 2 margin points for me 😎 😛
No movement on the ladder for me 😯
I’m strugling to find this thread everytime 👿
@Jarson (Comment 15) : well got 2 so far South and Auck got MP & BP and BOP only a MP
@Jarson (Comment 17) : i do also but go to top of the page and type in ITM CUP and it brings me to where i want to be 😉
I know the feeling, unfortunately we have a lot of OC coming in and it does get bumped down rather quickly. 🙁
@KSA Pink Shark © (Comment 19) : thanks it explains it now here and then down their 😉
@Jarson (Comment 15) :
1 from 2 with 1 MP but I’m ahead of WPW so in my book i’ve already won. 😛
@KSA Pink Shark © (Comment 21) : It seems that he has lost his sence of direction
Fulltime
Canterbury 37 – 30 Wellington
3 from 3 and 3 margin points 😯 😎 And I move up 1 place.
Fulltime
Hawke’s Bay 32 – 24 Taranaki
3 from 4 and 3 margin points. Guess my good run is over now 🙁
@Jarson (Comment 25) :
ONCE again I’m not doing so well.
Game 57: Southland v Auckland: Auckland by 6
Game 58: Bay of Plenty v Otago: Bay of Plenty by 15
Game 59: Canterbury v Wellington: Canterbury by 8
Game 60: Hawke’s Bay v Taranaki: Taranaki by 16
Game 61: Waikato v Tasman: Waikato by 6
Game 62: North Harbour v Manawatu: North Harbour by 6
Game 63: Counties Manukau v Northland: Northland by 10
@KSA Pink Shark © (Comment 27) : 2 from 4 is not that bad yet
@Jarson (Comment 25) :
WPW is going to have a full 2,5 point haul from that game. pushing him to right back next to me. 🙁
@Jarson (Comment 28) :
2 from 7 WILL be. 😆
Waikato by 12
North Harbour by 9
Counties by 2
@KSA Pink Shark © (Comment 30) : I hope not 😛 2 of my picks are the same as yours, so we better get those right
@Jarson (Comment 32) : 😛
Waikato 10 – 10 Tasman
27mins
So far so good for me. and with that i’m out for a while 🙁
I kinda can’t wait for the S15, I would like to see the Melbourne Rebels in action
Halftime
Wai 15 – 10 Tas
Wai 33 – 15 Tas
60mins
Fulltime
Waikato 33 – 15 Tasman
Margin is 18
4 from 5 so far with 2 games remaining 😕
Fulltime
North Harbour 44 – 30 Manawatu
Fulltime
Counties 40 – 24 Northland
6 from 7 with 4 margin points and I’m still in 19th spot 😯 🙁