2023 Farah Palmer Cup

2023 Farah Palmer Cup season
Countries New Zealand
Date15 July – 9 September 2023
ChampionsAuckland
Runners-upCanterbury
PromotedNorthland
RelegatedWellington
Matches played41
Top point scorerSelica Winiata (84 points)
(Manawatū)
Top try scorerAngelica Vahai (12 tries)
(Auckland)
Official website
www.provincial.rugby/farah-palmer-cup/

The 2023 Farah Palmer Cup season is the 17th season of the competition. The regular season ran from 15 July to 27 August, with the playoffs running from 2 to 9 September.

Auckland upset Canterbury to win the Premiership final, it was their first victory over Canterbury since 2017 and their first national title since 2015.[1][2] Northland beat Manawatū to win their first title in the Championship final and were promoted to the Premiership for the 2024 season.[3][4]

Format

The Farah Palmer Cup standings are sorted by a competition points system. Four points are awarded to the winning team, a draw earns two points, whilst a loss amounts to zero points. Unions can also win their side a respectable bonus point. To receive a bonus point, they must score four tries or more, or lose by seven points or less.[5] Each team is placed on their total points received. If a tiebreaker is necessary, when two or more teams finish on equal points, the union who acquired more competition points against the other tied team(s) gets placed higher. In the case that separation is still not made, the winner of the head-to-head result between the teams will get rights to be ranked above.[6] This seeding format was only implemented for the 2020 competition.

The regular season consists of two types of matches. Each union play home or away games against each team from their division, making a total of six competition games during the regular season for each union in the Premiership pool, and five regular season games for those in the Championship pool.[7]

Standings

Premiership

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Canterbury 6 5 0 1 268 123 +145 6 1 27
2 Waikato 6 5 0 1 150 93 +57 3 0 23
3 Auckland 6 4 0 2 195 118 +77 3 2 21
4 Hawke's Bay 6 3 0 3 150 242 −92 4 1 17
5 Counties Manukau 6 3 0 3 199 134 +65 3 0 15
6 Bay of Plenty 6 1 0 5 101 246 −145 2 1 7
7 Wellington 6 0 0 6 122 229 −107 2 2 4
Source:

Championship

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Manawatū 5 5 0 0 252 78 +174 5 0 25
2 Northland 5 4 0 1 192 67 +125 5 1 22
3 Otago 5 3 0 2 159 113 +46 4 1 17
4 Tasman 5 2 0 3 135 142 −7 3 1 12
5 Taranaki 5 1 0 4 41 272 −231 1 0 5
6 North Harbour 5 0 0 5 68 175 −107 0 1 1
Source:

Regular season

Week 1

15 July 2022 Hawke's Bay 32–31 Auckland Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park, Hasting  
12:05pm Try: Khalia Awa  21'
Denise Aiolupotea  25'
Teilah Ferguson  42'
Leah Tuhi  54'
Con: Krysten Cottrell (3/4)  22', 43', 55'
Pen: Krysten Cottrell (2/2)  40', 70'
Try: M.Puckett  28'
Princess Elliot  31'
A. Vahai  34'
M. Kataoka  68'
Cheyenne Tuli  73'
Con: F. Bloomfield (1/3)  29'
Sophie Fisher (2/2) 68', 73'
Pen: Sophie Fisher(0/1)
Cards: Cristo Tofa 16' to 26'
15 July 2022 Canterbury 58–29 Wellington Rugby Park, Christchurch  
12:05pm Try: K. Wright-Akeli  12'43'
Winnie Palamo  15'
Martha Mataele  29'
Marcelle Parkes  37'40'
Hayley Hutana  48'
Atlanta Lolohea  52'57'
K. Simpson  80'
Con: Isabella Waterman (0/3)
Hayley Hutana(4/7) 38', 40', 53', 58'
Try: J. McGregor  9'22'
S. Filipo  18'
A. Schwencke  61'
Con: A. Landon-Lane(2/3) 10', 23'
T. Ruaporo (0/2)
Cards: A. Schwencke 36' to 46'
15 July 2022 Bay of Plenty 0–50 Waikato Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua  
2:05pm Try: M. Paraone  31'61'
C. Wilson-Jenkins  40'74'
C. Hohepa  51'
G. Houpapa-Barrett  70'
L. Ieremia  77'
Con: S. Wood(1/2) 40'
S. Bayler (2/4)  62', 72'
Pen: S. Wood(3/3) 15', 15', 23'

Bye: Counties Manukau, Championship Teams

Week 2

22 July 2023 Waikato 27–24 Canterbury St. Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton  
2:05pm Try: C. Wilson-Jenkins  17'
V. Makea  40'80'
M. Anderson  43'
Con: S. Bayler (1/3)  44'
S. Wood(1/1) 82'
Pen: S. Wood(1/1) 85'
Try: K. Wright-Akeli  11'62'
L. Bayfield  26'
Martha Mataele  57'
Con: Isabella Waterman (2/4)  12', 58'
22 July 2023 Counties Manukau 51–5 Bay of Plenty Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe  
2:05pm Try: J. Kolose  10'50'72'
S. To'a  17'28'
C. Leuta  23'40'
K. Enosa-Taifau  46'
L. Samuelu  80'
Con: S. To'a (3/6)  17', 24', 51'
V. Subritzky-Nafatali(0/2)
Try: S. Williams  75'
Con: K. Raki (0/1)
22 July 2023 Tasman 28–34 Otago St. Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton  
7:05pm Try: A. Ulutupu  15'
C. Dixon  39'
F. Solomona  55'
S. Pauaraisa  61'
Con: C. Siataga (1/4)  62'
Pen: C. Siataga (2/2)  32', 76'
Try: K. Wright-Akeli  11'62'
L. Bayfield  26'
Martha Mataele  57'
Con: Isabella Waterman (2/4)  12', 58'

Bye: Hawke's Bay, Championship Teams

Week 3

29 July 2023 Canterbury 42–12 Bay of Plenty Christchurch Rugby Park  
29 July 2023 Tasman 26–21 North Harbour Trafalgar Park  
29 July 2023 Hawke's Bay 10–14 Waikato Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park  
29 July 2023 Otago 41–0 Taranaki Whitestone Contracting Stadium  
29 July 2023 Manawatū 34–28 Northland Central Energy Trust Arena  
30 July 2023 Wellington 20–53 Counties Manukau Hutt Recreation Ground  

Bye: Auckland

Week 4

4 August 2023 Taranaki 10–61 Tasman Yarrow Stadium  
5 August 2023 Auckland 61–19 Bay of Plenty Colin Maiden Park  
5 August 2023 Waikato 13–5 Counties Manukau St Paul's Collegiate  
5 August 2023 Northland 42–20 Otago Northland Events Centre  
6 August 2023 North Harbour 9–57 Manawatū Windsor Park  
6 August 2023 Wellington 22–33 Hawke's Bay Hutt Recreation Ground  

Bye: Canterbury

Week 5

11 August 2023 Counties Manukau 10–37 Auckland Navigation Homes Stadium  
12 August 2023 Bay of Plenty 37–7 Wellington Tauranga Domain  
12 August 2023 Northland 67–0 Taranaki Kaikohe RFC  
12 August 2023 Hawke's Bay 14–84 Canterbury Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park  
12 August 2023 Otago 37–12 North Harbour Forsyth Barr Stadium  
13 August 2023 Manawatū 46–14 Tasman Central Energy Trust Arena  

Bye: Waikato

Week 6

19 August 2023 North Harbour 19–31 Taranaki Onewa Domain  
19 August 2023 Canterbury 33–17 Counties Manukau Apollo Projects Stadium  
19 August 2023 Otago 27–31 Manawatū University of Otago Oval  
19 August 2023 Tasman 6–31 Northland Lansdowne Park  
20 August 2023 Bay of Plenty 28–35 Hawke's Bay Whakatane Rugby Park  
20 August 2023 Auckland 25–15 Waikato Colin Maiden Park  

Bye: Wellington

Week 7

26 August 2023 Auckland 24–27 Canterbury Eden Park  
26 August 2023 Counties Manukau 63–26 Hawke's Bay Navigation Homes Stadium  
26 August 2023 Otago 39–13 North Harbour Forsyth Barr Stadium  
27 August 2023 Waikato 31–29 Wellington FMG Stadium Waikato  
27 August 2023 Tasman 45–20 Taranaki Trafalgar Park  

Bye: Bay of Plenty

Play-offs

Premiership

Semi-finals Final
      
Waikato 22
Auckland 29
Canterbury 27
Auckland 39
Canterbury 59
Hawke's Bay 29

Championship

Semi-finals Final
      
Manawatū 73
Tasman 10
Manawatū 29
Northland 32
Northland 29
Otago 19

Semi-finals

Premiership Semi-finals


2 September Waikato 22–29 Auckland FMG Stadium Waikato  
3 September Canterbury 59–29 Hawke's Bay Christchurch Rugby Park  

Championship Semi-finals

2 September Manawatu 73–10 Tasman Central Energy Trust Arena  
2 September Northland 29–19 Otago Northland Events Centre  

Finals

Premiership Final

9 September Canterbury 27–39 Auckland Christchurch Rugby Park  

Championship Final

10 September Manawatu 29–32 Northland Central Energy Trust Arena  

JJ Stewart Trophy

The JJ Stewart Trophy is a trophy based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies. The holding union must defend the trophy in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the trophy.

Canterbury started the season as holders of the trophy and as such, were obligated to place the trophy up for challenge in all of their regular season home games.

References

  1. ^ Julian, Adam (14 September 2023). "Maama Vaipulu soaring high for Auckland". Provincial Rugby. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  2. ^ van Royen, Robert (10 September 2023). "Auckland upset Canterbury in Farah Palmer Cup final to snap long title drought". Stuff. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  3. ^ Julian, Adam (13 September 2023). "Farah Palmer Cup 2023 Wrap Up - Highlights". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  4. ^ Julian, Adam (10 September 2023). "Northland headed for Premiership in 2024". Provincial Rugby. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Adjustment to Mitre 10 Heartland Championship bonus points system". Rugby Heartland. 2 September 2016.
  6. ^ "SEMI-FINALISTS DECIDED IN THE FARAH PALMER CUP" (pdf). New Zealand Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  7. ^ "2020 FARAH PALMER CUP DRAW RELEASED". All Blacks. Retrieved 7 August 2020.