Rugby: Bay could be one of the first to challenge

Craig Philpott

The chances of the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team scoring an early Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato next year are high according to coach Craig Philpott.

"We could possibly be the first Premiership team to be accepted for a challenge ... with a bit of luck," Philpott said.

He predicted Waikato is likely to accept two challenges from Championship opponents before a Premiership side and with the Magpies the bottom seeds in the Premiership Waikato could opt for them early. In the wake of the ITM Cup crossover matches draw announced yesterday North Harbour and Manawatu are expected to be Waikato's first challengers.

The Magpies home games against Championship opponents will see a repeat of this year's ITM Cup Championship final against Wellington and a repeat of the semifinal against Bay of Plenty which means Napier's McLean Park will host the Battle of the Bays for the third consecutive year.

In their automatic crossover match (seventh seeds against eighth seeds) the Magpies will play neighbours Manawatu in Palmerston North. This will be the first match between the two sides since last year's Championship final which the Turbos won.

In their other crossover match the Magpies will take on the Southland Stags. Philpott believed the final draw with dates and venues will be completed before Christmas.

Championship sides Otago, Northland and North Harbour are the three teams the Magpies won't face next year when the ITM Cup will be conducted over an 11-week period. It will involve one midweek match with the hosts of this year's midweek game playing their midweek match away next year and for each division, semifinals and a final.

Each team will play every other team in its division once and four crossover matches.