# 2010 Heartland Championship

The 2010 Heartland Championship was the fifth edition of the New Zealand provincial rugby union competition, since the 2006 reconstruction. The teams represented the 12 amateur rugby unions.
In Round 1, the teams were split into two pools of 6 teams in a round-robin format (30 games, from 30 August to 25 September).
In Round 2, the first three teams in each pool of Round 1 competed for the Meads Cup, the others competed for the Lochore Cup. Each team met the teams from the other pool of Round 1 in a round-robin format (18 games, from 2 October to 16 October). The first four teams in Round 2 went on to the semifinals, the winners of which went on to the grand final on 31 October.
The winning teams were North Otago in the Meads Cup, and Wairarapa-Bush in the Lochore Cup.

## Round 1
### Pool A

* Qualified for Meads Cup
* Qualified for Lochore Cup
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TD | BP1 | BP2 | Pts |
| 1 | Wanganui | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 159 | 76 | 83 | 23 | 8 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| 2 | South Canterbury | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 107 | 76 | 31 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| 3 | Thames Valley | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 102 | 76 | 26 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| 4 | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 97 | 121 | −24 | 12 | 15 | −3 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | King Country | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 76 | 119 | −43 | 9 | 15 | −6 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | West Coast | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 77 | 150 | −73 | 10 | 19 | −9 | 0 | 0 | 4 |

#### Week 1

* 28 August 2010 14:00
| (BP) Thames Valley | 36–18 | West Coast |
| Try: Sam Ward, David Harrison, Alan McLean, Barton Thompson Con: David Harrison (2) Pen: David Harrison (4) | Report | Try: Tom Gilmore, Maleli Mudu Con: Willie Brown Pen: Luke Hughes (2) |
* Paeroa
* 28 August 2010 14:30
| King Country | 17–12 | Horowhenua-Kapiti (BP) |
| Try: James Hemara (2) Con: Tanner Vili (2) Pen: Tanner Vili | Report | Try: Gary Phelps, Josh Hamilton Con: Josh Hamilton |
* Te Kūiti
* 28 August 2010 14:30
| Wanganui | 13–6 | South Canterbury (BP) |
| Try: Sam Scown Con: Mark Davis Pen: Mark Davis (2) | Report | Pen: Jason Merrett (2) |
* Wanganui

#### Week 2

* 4 September 2010 14:30
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 16–30 | Wanganui (BP) |
| Try: Manaia Osborne Con: Nick Cooper Pen: Manaia Osborne (2), Mahi Gibson | Report | Try: Cole Baldwin (2), Taukorea Moeke, Ace Malo, Cameron Crowley Con: Mark Davis Pen: Mark Davis |
* Levin
* 4 September 2010 14:30
| West Coast | 13–8 | King Country (BP) |
| Try: Rowan O'Gorman Con: Luke Hughes Pen: Luke Hughes (2) | Report | Try: Sam Holder Pen: Jared Murrell |
* Greymouth
* 4 September 2010 14:30
| South Canterbury | 13–9 | Thames Valley (BP) |
| Try: Tevita Latu Con: Jason Merrett Pen: Jason Merrett (2) | Report | Pen: David Harrison (3) |
* Timaru

#### Week 3

* 11 September 2010 14:00
| Thames Valley | 14–5 | King Country |
| Try: Manaia Taotala Pen: David Harrison (2) Drop: Sam Clark | Report | Try: Lolohea Loco |
* Paeroa
* 11 September 2010 14:30
| (BP) Wanganui | 41–15 | West Coast |
| Try: Sam Scown, Cameron Crowley, Mark Davis, Adam Roe, John Smyth, Darren Munro Con: Mark Davis (4) Pen: Mark Davis | Report | Try: Brad Houston, Christian Tupuola Con: Luke Hughes Pen: Luke Hughes |
* Wanganui
* 11 September 2010 14:30
| South Canterbury | 34–13 | Horowhenua-Kapiti |
| Try: Eric Smith, Hamish Westgarth, Tanu Suavine Con: Jason Merrett (2) Pen: Jason Merrett (5) | Report | Try: Josh Hamilton Con: Nick Cooper Pen: Nick Cooper (2) |
* Timaru

#### Week 4

* 18 September 2010 13:45
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 17–26 | Thames Valley |
| Try: James Ross, Mahe Gibson Con: Josh Hamilton (2) Pen: Josh Hamilton | Report | Try: Manaia Taotala, Alan McLean, Glen Townsend Con: David Harrison Pen: David Harrison (3) |
* Foxton
* 18 September 2010 14:30
| King Country | 22–52 | Wanganui (BP) |
| Try: Shaun Burr, Fale Pule, Rob Sherson Con: Tanner Vili (2) Pen: Tanner Vili | Report | Try: Darren Munro (3), Taukorea Moeke (2), Shaun McDonough, Ace Malo, Johnny Mow Con: Mark Davis (6) |
* Taupō
* 18 September 2010 14:30
| West Coast | 17–26 | South Canterbury |
| Try: Rowan O'Gorman, Maleli Mudu, Brad Houston Con: Luke Hughes | Report | Try: Jonathan Direen, Hamish Westgarth Con: Jason Merrett (2) Pen: Jason Merrett (4) |
* Greymouth

#### Week 5

* 25 September 2010 14:30
| South Canterbury | 28–24 | King Country (BP) |
| Try: Tevita Latu (2), Simon Murray Con: Jason Merrett (2) Pen: Jason Merrett (3) | Report | Try: Jared Murrell, James Hemara Con: Tanner Vili Pen: Tanner Vili (4) |
* Timaru
* 25 September 2010 14:30
| (BP) Horowhenua-Kapiti | 39–14 | West Coast |
| Try: Josh Hamilton (4), Michael Papps, Clayton Winiata Con: Josh Hamilton (3) Pen: Josh Hamilton | Report | Try: Rowan O'Gorman (2) Con: Luke Hughes (2) |
* Paraparaumu
* 25 September 2010 14:30
| Wanganui | 23–17 | Thames Valley |
| Try: Ace Malo (2), Fraser Hammond Con: Mark Davis Pen: Mark Davis (2) | Report | Try: Glen Strange, Vesi Rauluni Con: David Harrison (2) Pen: David Harrison |
* Wanganui

### Pool B

* Qualified for Meads Cup
* Qualified for Lochore Cup
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TD | BP1 | BP2 | Pts |
| 1 | Mid Canterbury | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 150 | 85 | 65 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
| 2 | North Otago | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 243 | 80 | 163 | 33 | 9 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| 3 | Poverty Bay | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 187 | 82 | 105 | 27 | 8 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | Wairarapa Bush | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 99 | 151 | −52 | 10 | 19 | −9 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 5 | Buller | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 79 | 127 | −48 | 8 | 16 | −8 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | East Coast | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 44 | 277 | −233 | 4 | 41 | −37 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Week 1

* 28 August 2010 14:00
| (BP) Mid Canterbury | 20–25 | Poverty Bay |
| Try: James McLeod, Vesi Luatua Con: Davey Maw (2) Pen: Davey Maw (2) | Report | Try: Kahu Tamatea, John Stewart (2) Con: Kahu Tamatea (2) Pen: Kahu Tamatea (2) |
* Ashburton
* 28 August 2010 14:30
| (BP) Buller | 16–23 | Wairarapa Bush |
| Try: Joseph Bradley Con: Andrew Stephens Pen: Andrew Stephens (3) | Report | Try: Sam Mitchell Pen: Jeremy Te Huia (6) |
* Westport
* 28 August 2010 14:30
| East Coast | 3–116 | North Otago (BP) |
| Pen: Nathan Langsford | Report | Try: Luke Herden (5), Sione Pangata (3), Kasanova Soane (2), Hamish McKenzie (2), Dave Simpson, Palanapa Mafi, Josh Collier, Kilifi Fangupo, Ekeroma Sefo Con: Ben Patston (9), Billy Guyton (5) Pen: Ben Patston |
* Ruatoria

#### Week 2

* 4 September 2010 14:30
| Wairarapa Bush | 17–30 | Mid Canterbury (BP) |
| Try: Cyrus Baker, Nick Olson Con: Jeremy Te Huia (2) Pen: Jeremy Te Huia | Report | Try: Chris Crichton (2), Richard Catherwood, Tim Perry Con: Davey Maw (2) Pen: Davey Maw (2) |
* Masterton
* 4 September 2010 14:30
| (BP) North Otago | 44–20 | Buller |
| Try: Tevita Fifita (2), Faaitu Tuamoheloa, Josh Collier, Hamish McKenzie, Luke Herden Con: Ben Patston (2), Billy Guyton (2) Pen: Ben Patston (2) | Report | Try: Pene Navainabalu, Rory Kennedy Con: Andrew Stephens, Ricki Jacobs Pen: Andrew Stephens (2) |
* Oamaru
* 4 September 2010 14:30
| (BP) Poverty Bay | 71–3 | East Coast |
| Try: John Stewart (3), Whaimotu Craft-Chemis, Pomare Samupo, Mario Counsell, Lennon Carrington, Karl Gemmell-Clarke, Colin Hovell, Lloyd Gabriel, Kahu Tamatea Con: Kahu Tamatea (8) | Report | Pen: Tojo Maaka |
* Gisborne

#### Week 3

* 11 September 2010 14:00
| East Coast | 7–18 | Buller |
| Try: Verdon Bartlett Con: Lance Maaka | Report | Try: Brad Mackenzie, Joseph Bradley Con: Andrew Stephens Pen: Andrew Stephens (2) |
* Ruatoria
* 11 September 2010 14:30
| (BP) Poverty Bay | 62–6 | Wairarapa Bush |
| Try: John Stewart (3), Stan Williams (2), Whaimotu Craft-Chemis, Colin Hovell, Lloyd Gabriel, Murray Hewson Con: Kahu Tamatea (7) Pen: Kahu Tamatea | Report | Pen: Jeremy Te Huia (2) |
* Gisborne
* 11 September 2010 14:30
| (BP) Mid Canterbury | 29–14 | North Otago |
| Try: Chris Crichton (3), Vesi Luatua Con: Davey Maw (3) Pen: Davey Maw | Report | Try: Rangi Hepi Pen: Ben Patston (3) |
* Ashburton

#### Week 4

* 18 September 2010 14:30
| Buller | 12–32 | Mid Canterbury (BP) |
| Try: Pene Navainabalu, James Foster Con: Andrew Stephens | Report | Try: Chris Crichton, Tim Perry, Hayden Dwyer, Nick McKain, Emorio Ludoviko Con: Davey Maw (2) Pen: Davey Maw |
* Westport
* 18 September 2010 14:30
| (BP) Wairarapa Bush | 33–14 | East Coast |
| Try: Mana Faraimo (2), Tommy Sargent, Joe Harwood, Jeremy Te Huia Con: Jeremy Te Huia (4) | Report | Try: Verdon Bartlett Pen: Nathan Langsford (2) Drop: Norman Hauiti |
* Masterton
* 18 September 2010 14:30
| (BP) North Otago | 40–8 | Poverty Bay |
| Try: Tevita Fifita, Luke Herden, Josh Collier, Dylan Winter, Greg Zampach Con: Ben Patston (3) Pen: Ben Patston (3) | Report | Try: John Stewart Pen: Kahu Tamatea |
* Oamaru

#### Week 5

* 25 September 2010 14:30
| (BP) Mid Canterbury | 39–17 | East Coast |
| Try: Richard Catherwood (2), Mark Grieve-Dunn, Kody Nordqvist, Vesi Luatua, Vinnie Booiman Con: Davey Maw (3) Pen: Davey Maw | Report | Try: Charlie Harrison, Toamasi Coka Con: Nathan Langsford (2) Pen: Nathan Langsford |
* Ashburton
* 25 September 2010 14:30
| Poverty Bay | 21–13 | Buller |
| Try: Tom Teaeki, Murray Hewson, Whaimotu Craft-Chemis Con: Tim Gardner (2), Kahu Tamatea | Report | Try: Phillip Rossiter Con: Andrew Stephens Pen: Andrew Stephens (2) |
* Gisborne
* 25 September 2010 14:30
| Wairarapa Bush | 20–29 | North Otago (BP) |
| Try: Junior Togia, Joss Tua-Davidson Con: Jeremy Te-Huia (2) Pen: Jeremy Te-Huia (2) | Report | Try: Greg Zampach (2), Luke Herden, Tevita Fifita Con: Billy Guyton (2), Ben Patston Pen: Billy Guyton |
* Masterton

### Statistics
## Round 2
### Meads Cup Pool

* Qualified for semifinals
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TD | BP1 | BP2 | Pts |
| 1 | Wanganui | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 209 | 110 | 99 | 30 | 13 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 28 |
| 2 | Mid Canterbury | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 179 | 94 | 85 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| 3 | North Otago | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 286 | 94 | 192 | 40 | 11 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| 4 | Poverty Bay | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 221 | 132 | 89 | 32 | 15 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| 5 | South Canterbury | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 121 | 119 | 2 | 11 | 14 | −3 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| 6 | Thames Valley | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 111 | 105 | 6 | 10 | 11 | −1 | 1 | 2 | 15 |

#### Week 6

* 2 October 2010 14:30
| (BP) Wanganui | 50–34 | Poverty Bay (BP) |
| Try: John Mow (2), Cole Baldwin (2), Ace Malo, Denning Tyrell, Adam Roe Con: Mark Davis (6) Pen: Mark Davis | Report | Try: Tom Teaki (2), Whaimotu Craft-Chemis, Tevita Maka, Pomare Samupo Con: Kahu Tamatea, Tim Gardner (2) Pen: Kahu Tamatea |
* Wanganui
* 2 October 2010 14:30
| Mid Canterbury | 29–9 | Thames Valley |
| Try: Matt Ryan, Chris Crichton Con: Davey Maw (2) Pen: Davey Maw (5) | Report | Pen: David Harrison (3) |
* Ashburton
* 2 October 2010 14:30
| (BP) North Otago | 43–14 | South Canterbury |
| Try: Billy Guyton (3), Tevita Fifita (2), Luke Herden, Kilifi Fangupo Con: Ben Patston (4) | Report | Try: Matt Hayes, Nick Strachan Con: Jason Merrett (2) |
* Oamaru

#### Week 7

* 9 October 2010 14:30
| North Otago | 21–16 | Wanganui |
* Oamaru
* 9 October 2010 14:30
| Mid Canterbury | 13–15 | South Canterbury |
* Ashburton
* 9 October 2010 14:30
| Poverty Bay | 45–18 | Thames Valley |
* Gisborne

#### Week 8

* 16 October 2010 14:00
| Thames Valley | 26–38 | North Otago |
* Oamaru
* 16 October 2010 14:30
| South Canterbury | 14–16 | Poverty Bay |
* Timaru
* 16 October 2010 14:30
| Wanganui | 29–3 | Mid Canterbury |
* Wanganui

### Lochore Cup Pool

* Qualified for semifinals
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TD | BP1 | BP2 | Pts |
| 1 | King Country | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 122 | 128 | −6 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 2 | Wairarapa Bush | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 129 | 186 | −57 | 13 | 23 | −10 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| 3 | Buller | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 102 | 138 | −36 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 4 | West Coast | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 112 | 180 | −68 | 14 | 22 | −8 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 5 | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 108 | 144 | −36 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | East Coast | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 53 | 323 | −270 | 4 | 47 | −43 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Week 6

* 2 October 2010 14:30
| (BP) Wairarapa Bush | 30–35 | West Coast (BP) |
| Try: Jesse McGilvary (2), Mana Faraimo Con: Jeremy Te Huia (3) Pen: Jeremy Te Huia (3) | Report | Try: Luke Hughes, Brad Houston, Sam Hannah, Simon Bourke Con: Luke Hughes (3) Pen: Luke Hughes (3) |
* Masterton
* 2 October 2010 14:30
| (BP) King Country | 45–9 | East Coast |
| Try: Sam Mason (2), Rob Sherson (2), Lolohea Loco, Jared Murrell Con: Tanner Vili (5), Jared Murrell Pen: Tanner Vili | Report | Pen: Nathan Langsford (3) |
* Taupō
* 2 October 2010 14:30
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 11–23 | Buller |
| Try: Josh Hamilton Pen: Sam Gibson Drop: Josh Hamilton | Report | Try: Brad MacKenzie Pen: Andrew Stephens (6) |
* Levin

#### Week 7

* 9 October 2010 14:30
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 31–17 | Wairarapa Bush |
* Levin
* 9 October 2010 14:30
| King Country | 44–5 | Buller |
* Te Kūiti
* 9 October 2010 14:30
| West Coast | 33–18 | East Coast |
* Greymouth

#### Week 8

* 16 October 2010 14:30
| Wairarapa Bush | 22–43 | King Country |
* Masterton
* 16 October 2010 14:30
| East Coast | 25–28 | Horowhenua-Kapiti |
* Ruatoria
* 16 October 2010 14:30
| Buller | 20–11 | West Coast |
* Westport

## Finals
### Lochore Cup

The 2010 Lochore Cup semi-finals began with controversy when West Coast Rugby Football Union were effectively expelled from the competition:
   "West Coast, with three wins and two bonus points, had gained sufficient championship points to qualify for the Lochore Cup semi-finals but the team’s endeavors were ruined when the NZRU fined West Coast $2500 and stripped it of live competition points for knowingly breaching the eligibility regulations during the game against Wairarapa Bush which the Coast had won and gained a bonus point for scoring four tries." – West Coast Rugby Football Union
Wairarapa Bush and Buller progressed to the final by beating King Country and Horowhenua-Kapiti respectively.
The Lochore Cup was won by Wairarapa Bush beating Buller 15-9 in the final.

### Meads Cup

The Meads Cup semi-finals were won by North Otago and Whanganui, defeating Mid-Canterbury and Poverty Bay respectively.
In the final of the Meads Cup, North Otago won the game 39–18 over Whanganui in the match on 30 October at Whitestone Contracting Stadium.