# 2019 Heartland Championship

The 2019 Heartland Championship, known as the 2019 Mitre 10 Heartland Championship for sponsorship reasons, was the 14th edition of the Heartland Championship, a rugby union competition involving the twelve amateur rugby unions in New Zealand. The tournament began with a round-robin stage in which the twelve teams played eight games each, from which the top four advanced to the Meads Cup semifinals, while fifth to eighth advanced to the Lochore Cup semifinals. In both of these knockout stages the top seeds (first and fifth) played at home against the lowest seeds (fourth and eighth), the second highest seeds (second and sixth) played at home against the third highest seeds (third and seventh) and the final featured the higher seed playing at home against the lower seed.

## Teams

The 2019 Heartland Championship was contested by the following teams.
| Team | Super Rugby partner | Hometown(s) | Home stadium | Capacity |
| Buller | Crusaders | Westport | Victoria Square | 5,000 |
| East Coast | Hurricanes | Ruatoria | Whakarua Park | 3,000 |
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | Hurricanes | Levin | Levin Domain | 6,500 |
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | Hurricanes | Waikanae | Waikanae Park | Waikanae Park |
| King Country | Chiefs | Taupō | Owen Delany Park | 20,000 |
| King Country | Chiefs | Te Kūiti | Rugby Park | Rugby Park |
| Mid Canterbury | Crusaders | Ashburton | Ashburton Showgrounds | 5,000 |
| North Otago | Highlanders | Oamaru | Whitestone Contracting Stadium | 7,000 |
| Poverty Bay | Hurricanes | Gisborne | More FM Rugby Park | 18,000 |
| South Canterbury | Crusaders | Timaru | Fraser Park | 12,000 |
| Thames Valley | Chiefs | Paeroa | Paeroa Domain | 3,000 |
| Wairarapa Bush | Hurricanes | Masterton | Trust House Memorial Park | 10,000 |
| Wanganui | Hurricanes | Wanganui | Cooks Gardens | 15,000 |
| West Coast | Crusaders | Greymouth | Rugby Park | 6,000 |

## Standings

| Pos. | Team | GP | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Thames Valley | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 240 | 163 | +77 | 4 | 2 | 30 |
| 2 | North Otago | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 241 | 166 | +75 | 3 | 2 | 29 |
| 3 | Wairarapa Bush | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 209 | 181 | +28 | 4 | 1 | 29 |
| 4 | Wanganui | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 294 | 184 | +110 | 6 | 2 | 28 |
| 5 | West Coast | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 217 | 232 | -15 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
| 6 | Buller | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 261 | 196 | +65 | 5 | 1 | 26 |
| 7 | South Canterbury | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 237 | 176 | +61 | 4 | 3 | 25 |
| 8 | Poverty Bay | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 237 | 257 | −20 | 6 | 2 | 20 |
| 9 | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 184 | 250 | −66 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| 10 | King Country | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 172 | 230 | −58 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| 11 | Mid Canterbury | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 161 | 236 | −75 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 12 | East Coast | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 172 | 354 | −182 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
* Meads Cup qualification
* Lochore Cup qualification
In the case of two teams being tied on points, the ranking of teams is decided by:
* (1) the winner of the round robin match between the two provinces; then
* (2) highest point difference; then
* (3) most tries scored; then
* (4) a coin toss.
In the case of three or more teams being tied on points, the ranking of teams is decided by:
* (1) the province with the most wins against other tied provinces in the Round Robin; then
* (2) if two teams remain tied they shall be ranked according to the criteria listed above, but if more than two teams remain tied, they shall be ranked according to criteria (2) to (4) only.

## Regular season

The schedule of fixtures was confirmed on 25 February 2019.

### Round 1

* 24 August 2019 14:30 NZST
| Buller | 54–19 | East Coast |
| Try: James Lash (2) T. Manawatu (2) Robbie Malneek Alex Paterson Jack Best Petaia Saukuru Con: James Lash (7) | Report | Try: Hakarangi Tichborne (2) Mitchell Crosswell Con: Zane King (2) |
* Victoria Square, Westport Referee: T Giffiths
* 24 August 2019 14:30 NZST
| Mid Canterbury | 10–17 | Horowhenua-Kapiti |
| Try: Seta Koroitamana Josh McAtamney | Report | Try: Scott Cameron Nardus Eramus Con: Himiona Henare (2/2) Pen: Himiona Henare (1) |
* Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton
* 24 August 2019 14:30 NZST
| South Canterbury | 20–26 | North Otago |
| Try: Siu Kakala (2) Nick Strachan Con: Faalele Iosua (1) Pen: Faalele Iosua (1) | Report | Try: Melikisua Kolinisau Howard Packman Con: Robbie Smith (2/2) Pen: Robbie Smith (4) |
* Fraser Park, Timaru Referee: J Bredin
* 24 August 2019 14:30 NZST
| Thames Valley | 15–17 | Poverty Bay |
| Try: Kieran Lee (2) Danny Kayes | Report | Try: Riki Terekia Andrew Tauatevalu (2) Con: Andrew Tauatevalu (1) |
* Paeroa Domain, Paeroa Referee: D Waenga
* 24 August 2019 14:30 NZST
| Wairarapa Bush | 28–18 | Wanganui |
| Try: Tristan Flutey Sam Tufuga Logan Hebenton-Prendeville Con: Tipene Haira (2) Pen: Tipene Haira (3) | Report | Try: Roman Tutauha Lindsay Horrocks Con: Dane Whale (1) Pen: Dane Whale (1) Drop: Craig Clarke (1) |
* Trust House Memorial Park, Masterton Referee: M Winter
* 24 August 2019 14:30 NZST
| West Coast | 56–27 | King Country |
| Try: Josh Tomlinson (2) Boris van Bruchem Dan Davis Brad Tauwhare Jesse Pitman-Joass Nick Thomson Jared Mitchell Con: Todd Struthers (5) Pen: Todd Struthers (2) | Report | Try: Aletosio Tapili Stephen Turner Chulainn Mabbett-Sowerby Bradly Jeffries Con: Evann Reihana (2) Pen: Evann Reihana (1) |
* Rugby Park, Greymouth Referee: N Webster

### Round 2

* 30 August 2019 17:05 NZST
| North Otago | 25–11 | Wairarapa Bush |
| Try: Howard Packman Samuel Tatupu Lemi Masoe Con: Robbie Smith (2/3) Pen: Robbie Smith (2) | Report | Try: Brock Price Con: Tipene Haira (0/1) Pen: Tipene Haira (2) |
* Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Referee: S Curran
* 30 August 2019 19:30 NZST
| King Country | 34–12 | Buller |
| Try: Alefosio Tapili (2) Sisa Vosaki (2) Zayn Tipping Con: Evaan Reihana (3) Pen: Evaan Reihana (1) | Report | Try: Gabba de Kock (2) Con: Timoti Manawatu (1) |
* Owen Delany Park Referee: H Reed
* 31 August 2019 14:30 NZST
| East Coast | 15–22 | Mid Canterbury |
| Try: Zac Guildford Epeli Lotawa Con: Zane King (1) Pen: Zane King (1) | Report | Try: Jon Dampney Matt McAtamney Manasa Bari Con: Corey McKay (2) Pen: Corey McKay (1) |
* Whakarua Park, Ruatoria
* 31 August 2019 14:30 NZST
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 21–27 | West Coast |
| Try: Kane Tamou Nathan Kendrick Himiona Henare Con: Codi Hemi (3/3) | Report | Try: Josh Tomlinson Sam Lebezeit Jesse Pitman-Joass Con: Todd Struthers (3/3) Pen: Todd Struthers (1) Drop: Jesse Pitman-Joass (1) |
* Horowhenua Community Trust Levin Domain, Levin Referee: J Bredin
* 31 August 2019 14:30 NZST
| Poverty Bay | 29–40 | South Canterbury |
| Try: Adrian Wyrill (2) Ethan Reeves Penalty try Con: Andrew Tauateluva (2/2) Pen: Andrew Tauateluva (1) | Report | Try: Brad Tunnicliffe (3) Clarence Moli (2) Zac Saunders Con: Theo Davidson (2) Pen: Theo Davidson (1) Reilly Cormack (1) |
* More FM Rugby Park, Gisborne Referee: T Cottrell
* 31 August 2019 14:30 NZST
| Wanganui | 30–36 | Thames Valley |
| Try: Nick Harding Roman Tutauha Dane Whale Shay Wiperi Con: Nick Harding (2) Pen: Nick Harding (2) | Report | Try: Laulea Mau Matiu Abraham Jason Laurich Pen: Regan Crosland (7) |
* Cooks Gardens, Wanganui Referee: Rebecca Mahoney

### Round 3

* 7 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Buller | 22–21 | Wanganui |
| Try: A. Paterson L. Ravudra P. Saukuru Con: James Lash (2) Pen: James Lash (1) | Report | Try: Scorers unknown |
* Victoria Square, Westport Referee: N Webster
* 7 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Poverty Bay | 30–34 | North Otago |
| Try: Andrew Tauatevalu Scott McKinley Penalty try Con: Andrew Tauatevalu (2/2) Pen: Andrew Tauatevalu (3) | Report | Try: Michael Williams Charles Elton Clymont Gasca Ralph Darling Con: Robbie Smith (4/4) Pen: Robbie Smith (2) |
* More FM Rugby Park, Gisborne Referee: H Reed
* 7 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| South Canterbury | 57–7 | Horowhenua-Kapiti |
| Try: Tokomaata Fakatava Cam Russell Joel Smith Kalavini Leatigaga Clarence Moli Zac Saunders Solomone Iavaka Penalty try Con: Willie Wright (6) Theo Davidson (1) Pen: Willie Wright (1) | Report | Try: Scorers unknown |
* Fraser Park, Timaru Referee: J Bredin
* 7 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Thames Valley | 43–15 | East Coast |
| Try: Danny Kayes (2) Harry Lafituanai (2) Laulea Mau Ben Bonnar Bobby Motuliki Con: Regan Crossland (3) Cole Berridge (1) | Report | Try: Tawhao Stewart Hone Haerewa Epeli Lotawa |
* Paeroa Domain, Paeroa Referee: A Mabey
* 7 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Wairarapa Bush | 37–31 | King Country |
| Try: Tristan Flutey (2) Johan van Vliet Ueta Tufuga Brendon Campbell (2) Con: Tipene Haira (1) Tim Priest (1) Pen: Tipene Haira (1) | Report | Try: Brad Armstrong Chulainn Mabbett-Sowerby Alex Thrupp Josh Balme Tayne Tupaea Con: Evaan Reihana (3) |
* Trust House Memorial Park, Masterton Referee: T Cottrell
* 7 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| West Coast | 43–41 | Mid Canterbury |
| Try: Sam Liebezeit (2) Troy Tauwhare Sione Holani Jared Mitchell Logan Winter Amenatave Tukana Con: Todd Struthers (2) Sean McClure (1) Jesse Pitman-Joass (1) | Report | Try: Seta Koroitamana (2) Matt McAtamney Manasa Bari (2) Jackson Donlan Con: Corey McKay (4) Pen: Corey McKay (1) |
* Rugby Park, Greymouth Referee: J Munro

### Round 4

* 14 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| East Coast | 12–27 | King Country |
* Whakarua Park, Ruatoria
* 14 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 31–46 | Buller |
* Horowhenua Community Trust Levin Domain, Levin Referee: N Hogan
* 14 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Mid Canterbury | 13–13 | South Canterbury |
* Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton Referee: J Munro
* 14 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| North Otago | 22–21 | Thames Valley |
* Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru Referee: S Curran
* 14 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Wairarapa Bush | 36–31 | Poverty Bay |
* Trust House Memorial Park, Masterton Referee: N Webster
* 14 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Wanganui | 36–18 | West Coast |
* Cooks Gardens, Wanganui Referee: C Stone

### Round 5

* 21 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| King Country | 19–35 | Horowhenua-Kapiti |
* Rugby Park, Te Kūiti
* 21 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Poverty Bay | 52–38 | Mid Canterbury |
* More FM Rugby Park, Gisborne Referee: A Mabey
* 21 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| South Canterbury | 38–27 | Buller |
* Fraser Park, Timaru Referee: Rebecca Mahoney
* 21 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Thames Valley | 29–23 | Wairarapa Bush |
* Paeroa Domain, Paeroa Referee: H Reed
* 21 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Wanganui | 67–24 | East Coast |
* Cooks Gardens, Wanganui Referee: S Curran
* 21 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| West Coast | 17–18 | North Otago |
* Rugby Park, Greymouth Referee: J Bredin

### Round 6

* 28 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Buller | 17–20 | Wairarapa Bush |
* Victoria Square, Westport Referee: S Curran
* 28 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| East Coast | 19–21 | West Coast |
* Whakarua Park, Ruatoria Referee: R Gordon
* 28 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 38–28 | Poverty Bay |
* Waikanae Park, Waikanae Referee: C Stone
* 28 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| King Country | 19–21 | South Canterbury |
* Owen Delany Park Referee: D MacPherson
* 28 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| Mid Canterbury | 17–31 | Thames Valley |
* Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton Referee: N Webster
* 28 September 2019 14:30 NZST
| North Otago | 22–27 | Wanganui |
* Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru Referee: T Cottrell

### Round 7

* 5 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| North Otago | 34–10 | Mid Canterbury |
* Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru Referee: C Paul
* 5 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| Poverty Bay | 24–20 | East Coast |
* More FM Rugby Park, Gisborne Referee: A Mabey
* 5 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| Thames Valley | 28–24 | South Canterbury |
* Paeroa Domain, Paeroa Referee: D MacPherson
* 5 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| Wairarapa Bush | 25–20 | Horowhenua-Kapiti |
* Trust House Memorial Park, Masterton Referee: R Gordon
* 5 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| Wanganui | 57–19 | King Country |
* Cooks Gardens, Wanganui Referee: V Ringrose
* 5 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| West Coast | 7–47 | Buller |
* Rugby Park, Greymouth Referee: M Playle

### Round 8

* 12 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| Buller | 36–26 | Poverty Bay |
* Victoria Square, Westport Referee: J Bredin
* 12 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| East Coast | 29–61 | North Otago |
* Whakarua Park, Ruatoria Referee: T Cottrell
* 12 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 15–38 | Wanganui |
* Horowhenua Community Trust Levin Domain, Levin Referee: N Hogan
* 12 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| King Country | 15–37 | Thames Valley |
* Rugby Park, Te Kūiti Referee: M Playle
* 12 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| Mid Canterbury | 10–31 | Wairarapa Bush |
* Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton Referee: D Moore
* 12 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| South Canterbury | 24–27 | West Coast |
* Fraser Park, TImaru Referee: T Griffiths

## Finals

| Meads Cup semi-finals | Meads Cup semi-finals | Meads Cup semi-finals | Meads Cup final | Meads Cup final | Meads Cup final |
| 1 | Thames Valley | 15 | | | |
| 4 | Wanganui | 20 | | | |
| 4 | Wanganui | 20 | 4 | Wanganui | 19 |
| | | | 2 | North Otago | 33 |
| 2 | North Otago | 27 | 2 | North Otago | 33 |
| 3 | Wairarapa Bush | 25 | | | |
| Lochore Cup semi-finals | Lochore Cup semi-finals | Lochore Cup semi-finals | Lochore Cup final | Lochore Cup final | Lochore Cup final |
| 5 | West Coast | 41 | | | |
| 8 | Poverty Bay | 35 | | | |
| 8 | Poverty Bay | 35 | 5 | West Coast | 19 |
| | | | 7 | South Canterbury | 23 |
| 6 | Buller | 24 | 7 | South Canterbury | 23 |
| 7 | South Canterbury | 56 | | | |

### Semi-finals

* 19 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| Thames Valley | 15–20 | Wanganui |
| Pen: Reece Boughton (5) | | Try: Vereniki Tikoisolomone (2) Con: Nick Harding (2) Pen: Nick Harding (2) |
* Paeroa Domain, Paeroa Referee: Dan Waenga
* 19 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| North Otago | 27–25 | Wairarapa Bush |
| Try: Howard Packman (2), Hayden Tisdall, Meli Kolinisau Con: Robbie Smith (2) Pen: Robbie Smith | | |
* Whitestone Contracting Stadium Referee: Tipene Cottrell
* 19 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| West Coast | 41–35 | Poverty Bay |
* Greymouth Referee: H Reed
* 19 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| Buller | 24–56 | South Canterbury |
* Westport Referee: N Webster

### Finals

* 26 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| Wanganui | 19–33 | North Otago |
* Oamaru Referee: A Mabey
* 27 October 2019 14:30 NZST
| West Coast | 19–23 | South Canterbury |
* Greymouth Referee: T Cottrell

## Ranfurly Shield challenges
### Pre-season challenges

For the 2019 preseason, Ranfurly Shield holders Otago saw challenges from the reigning 2018 Heartland Championship champions Thames Valley as well as neighbours North Otago.
* 13 July 2019 14:05 NZST
| Otago | 41–21 | Thames Valley |
| Try: Sekonaia Pole 40' James Lentjes 45' Ben Miller 52' Aleki Morris 60' Dylan Nel 71' Slade McDowall 80' Con: Ben Miller (4/6) 40', 52', 61', 72' Faddes (0/1) Pen: Ben Miller (1/2) 78' | Report | Try: Harry Lafituanai (2) 29', 75' Con: Reece Broughton (1/1) 30' Cole Berridge (0/1) Pen: Reece Broughton (3/5) 8', 20', 48' Cards: Lance Easton 44' |
* Wanaka Showgrounds, Wānaka Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Nick Webster (New Zealand)
* 26 July 2019 14:05 NZST
| Otago | 49–14 | North Otago |
| Try: Vilimoni Koroi 10' c Joshua Dickson 17' c Aleki Morris 37' c Jona Nareki 43' c R. Gouws 62' c S. Mau 72' c James Lentjes 77' c Con: Ash Moeke (7/7) 11', 18', 38', 44', 63', 73', 78' Cards: Sio Tomkinson 27' | Report | Try: H. Packman 28' c M. Kolinisau 59' c Con: R. Smith (2/2) 29', 60' |
* Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru Referee: Rebecca Mahoney (New Zealand)