# 2011 Heartland Championship

The 2011 Heartland Championship was the sixth edition of the Heartland Championship, New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition, since it was reorganised in 2006. The teams represented the 12 amateur rugby unions.
For 2011, the competition did away with the two-round system of previous years. The tournament's round robin stage saw the 12 teams play 8 games. The top four teams in the table at the end of the 8 weeks played off for the Meads Cup while the next four teams contested the Lochore Cup.
The winner of the Meads Cup received automatic promotion to the Championship, replacing the seventh-placed team in the Championship, which was relegated to the Heartland Championship.

## Teams

The 2011 Heartland Championship is being contested by the following teams:
| Province | Super Rugby partner | Hometown |
| Buller | Crusaders | Westport |
| East Coast | Hurricanes | Ruatoria |
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | Hurricanes | Levin |
| King Country | Chiefs | Te Kūiti, Taupō |
| Mid Canterbury | Crusaders | Ashburton |
| North Otago | Highlanders | Oamaru |
| Poverty Bay | Hurricanes | Gisborne |
| South Canterbury | Crusaders | Timaru |
| Thames Valley | Chiefs | Paeroa |
| Wairarapa Bush | Hurricanes | Masterton |
| Wanganui | Hurricanes | Wanganui |
| West Coast | Crusaders | Greymouth |

## Table

* Qualified for Meads Cup
* Qualified for Lochore Cup
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Wanganui | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 364 | 117 | +247 | 7 | 35 |
| 2 | North Otago | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 265 | 149 | +115 | 5 | 35 |
| 3 | East Coast | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 189 | 198 | −9 | 3 | 27 |
| 4 | Mid Canterbury | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 180 | 143 | +37 | 6 | 26 |
| 5 | Buller | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 188 | 131 | +57 | 6 | 26 |
| 6 | South Canterbury | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 239 | 187 | +52 | 6 | 22 |
| 7 | Thames Valley | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 229 | 181 | +48 | 3 | 21 |
| 8 | Poverty Bay | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 184 | 226 | −42 | 5 | 19 |
| 9 | West Coast | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 144 | 216 | −72 | 3 | 13 |
| 10 | Wairarapa Bush | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 156 | 231 | −75 | 4 | 8 |
| 11 | King Country | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 150 | 281 | −131 | 1 | 5 |
| 12 | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 98 | 326 | −228 | 1 | 5 |

## Results
### Week 1

* 6 August 14:30
| Buller | 18–14 | Poverty Bay |
| Try: Luke Brownlie, Pene Naibanavalu Con: Tema Faifua Pen: Andrew Stephens | Report | |
* Victoria Square, Westport
* 6 August 14:30
| East Coast | 15–13 | Mid Canterbury |
| | Report | Try: Richard Catherwood, Adam Ross Pen: Peter McAndrew |
* Whakarua Park, Ruatoria
* 6 August 14:30
| Wairarapa Bush | 26–53 | Thames Valley |
| Try: Trent Vatselias (2), Tommy Harmon, James Goodger Con: Tipene Haira (3) | Report | |
* Trust House Memorial Park, Masterton
* 6 August 14:30
| Wanganui | 50–19 | King Country |
| Try: Simon Dibben (2), Sam Scown (2), Cole Baldwin, Ace Malo, Shaun McDonough Con: Mark Davis (6) Pen: Mark Davis | Report | Try: James Hemara, Mack Lynn, Josh Standen Con: Sean Cressy (2) |
* Spriggens Park, Wanganui
* 6 August 14:30
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 24–20 | South Canterbury |
| Try: Rahiri Connor-Johnson (2), Michael Papps, Marcus Sweetman Con: Tiakina Manga (2) | Report | |
* Horowhenua Community Trust Levin Domain, Levin
* 7 August 14:05
| North Otago | 29–19 | West Coast |
| Try: Whiria Meltzer (3), Hamish McKenzie, Luke Herden Con: Ben Patston, Billy Guyton | Report | Try: Rowan O'Gorman, Luke Hughes Con: Shannon Donald |
* Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

### Week 2

* 13 August 14:30
| King Country | 20–34 | Buller |
| Try: Luke Draper, Sam Holder, Rupeni Seduadua Con: Sean Cressy Pen: Sean Cressy | Report | Try: Craig Adams (2), Peni Naibanavalu, William Sakuru Con: Andrew Stephens (4) Pen: Andrew Stephens (2) |
* Rugby Park, Te Kūiti
* 13 August 14:30
| West Coast | 15–20 | East Coast |
| Try: Lance McEwen, Luke Hughes Con: Shannon Donald Pen: Shannon Donald | Report | Try: Sikeli Vorenasu, Charlie Harrison Con: Sikeli Vorenasu Pen: Sikeli Vorenasu Drop: Sikeli Vorenasu |
* Rugby Park, Greymouth
* 13 August 14:30
| Poverty Bay | 30–30 | North Otago |
| Try: John Stewart (3), Lloyd Gabriel Con: Kahu Tamatea (2) Pen: Kahu Tamatea (2) | Report | Try: Billy Guyton, Ralph Darling, Will Hurst, Whiria Meltzer Con: Jason Forrest (2) Pen: Jason Forrest (2) |
* The Oval, Gisborne
* 13 August 14:30
| Mid Canterbury | 16–12 | Wairarapa Bush |
| Try: Jason Rickard, Pete McAndrew Pen: Stefan van Gruting (2) | Report | Pen: Trent Vatselias (4) |
* Methven Domain, Methven
* 13 August 14:00
| Thames Valley | 36–5 | Horowhenua-Kapiti |
| Try: Aaron McDonald, Jackson Achilles, Johan Bardoul, Lance Easton Con: Joe Reynolds (2) Pen: Joe Reynolds (4) | Report | Try: Anthony Porima |
* Paeroa Domain, Paeroa
* 13 August 14:30
| South Canterbury | 18–28 | Wanganui |
| Try: Jared Trevathan, Junior Sala Con: Scott Norton Pen: Scott Norton (2) | Report | Try: Andrew Retallick, Simon Dibben, Rusiate Vukula Con: Mark Davis (2) Pen: Mark Davis (3) |
* Fraser Park, Timaru

### Week 3

* 20 August 14:30
| Poverty Bay | 8–6 | Mid Canterbury |
| Try: Apisalome Ratuniyarawa Pen: Kahu Tamatea | | Pen: Stefan Van Gruting (2) |
* The Oval, Gisborne
* 20 August 14:30
| Wairarapa Bush | 11–26 | Buller |
| Try: James Goodger Pen: Trent Vatselia, Tipene Haira | | Try: William Saukuru, Pene Naivanaivalu (2), Tema Faifua Con: Andrew Stephens, Phil Gibson (2) |
* Trust House Memorial Park, Masterton
* 20 August 14:30
| West Coast | 22–3 | Horowhenua-Kapiti |
| Try: Rowan O'Gorman, Jason Wright Pen: Sean Donald (4) | | Pen: Tiakina Manga |
* Rugby Park, Greymouth
* 20 August 14:30
| North Otago | 52–17 | East Coast |
| Try: Lemi Masoe (2), Faaitu Tuamoheloa (2), Tevita Fifita (2), Whiria Meltzer (2) Con: Ben Paterson (6) | | Try: Ricky Waitoa, Sikeli Vorenasu, Rocky Monika Con: Sikeli Vorenasu |
* Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru
* 20 August 14:30
| King Country | 17–45 | South Canterbury |
| Try: Hayden Braid, Anthony Kiff Con: Sean Cressy (2) Pen: Sean Cressy | | Try: Sekope Maea, Jarred Trevathan, Eric Smith, Kail Latu, Maile Iongi Con: Scott Norton (4) Pen: Scott Norton (4) |
* Owen Delany Park, Taupo
* 20 August 14:00
| Thames Valley | 21–31 | Wanganui |
| Try: Jimmy Horsford, Jackson Achilles Con: Joe Reynolds Pen: Joe Reynolds (3) | | Try: Sam Scown (2), Tevita Taufui Con: Mark Davis (2) Pen: Mark Davis (4) |
* Paeroa Domain, Paeroa

### Week 4

* 27 August 14:30
| Wanganui | 23–26 | Mid Canterbury |
| Try: Simon Dibben, Paul Fitzgerald, Sam Scown, Tevita Tafui Pen: Mark Davis | | Try: Sefo Makaui (2), James Kora, Dwayne Burrows Con: James Lash (3) |
* Spriggens Park, Wanganui
* 27 August 14:30
| South Canterbury | 42–31 | Poverty Bay |
| Try: Kurt Rooney, Sam Beard, Jarred Trevathan, Sekope Maea (2) Con: Scott Norton (4) Pen: Scott Norton (3) | | Try: John Stewart (2), BJ Sidney, Paulo Tikomainaivalu (2) Con: Scott Leighton (3) |
* Fraser Park, Timaru Attendance: 500
* 27 August 14:30
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 17–29 | King Country |
| Try: Marcus Sweetman Pen: Vili Tia (4) | | Try: Dean Church (3), Sam Mason, Hayden Baird Con: Sean Cressy (2) |
* Horowhenua Community Trust Levin Domain, Levin
* 27 August 14:30
| North Otago | 41–26 | Wairarapa Bush |
| Try: Hamish McKenzie, Will Hurst (2), Whiria Meltzer, Luke Herden Con: Ben Patston (5) Pen: Ben Patston (2) | | Try: Nick Olson, Trent Vetselias Con: Trent Vetselias (2) Pen: Trent Vetselias (4) |
* Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru
* 27 August 14:30
| Buller | 34–8 | East Coast |
| Try: Phil Gibson, Phil Rossiter, William Saukuru, Pene Nabainivalu, Sam Marris Con: Andrew Stephens (3) Pen: Andrew Stephens | | Try: Thomas Kahukiwa Pen: Brad Turei |
* Victoria Square, Westport
* 27 August 14:30
| West Coast | 17–17 | Thames Valley |
| Try: Scott McAuley, Alan Monk, Maleli Mudu Con: Shannon Donald | | Try: Lance Easton, Joe Reynolds Con: Joe Reynolds (2) Pen: Joe Reynolds |
* Rugby Park, Greymouth

### Week 5

* 3 September 14:30
| Poverty Bay | 13–58 | Wanganui |
| Try: John Stewart Con: Scott Leighton Pen: Scott Leighton (2) | | Try: Steelie Koro, Tevita Tafui (2), Ace Malo (2), Rusiate Vukula, Jason Hughes Con: Ace Malo (3), Mark Davis (3) Pen: Mark Davis (2) |
* Patutahi Domain, Gisborne
* 3 September 14:30
| Mid Canterbury | 37–12 | King Country |
| Try: Sefo Makaui, Dwayne Burrows, Ben Kitching, James Lash, Mac Sykes Con: James Lash (3) Pen: James Lash (2) | | Try: James Hemara, Charles Hubbard Con: Sean Cressy |
* Methven Domain, Methven
* 3 September 14:30
| Horowhenua-Kapiti` | 15–61 | North Otago |
| Try: Tiakina Manga (2) Con: Vili Tia Pen: Vili Tia | | Try: Eric Duff, Ben Patston, Luke Herden, Chris Talanoa, Tevita Tafui (2), Carn Parata, Lemi Masoe, Billy Guyton Con: Ben Patston (8) |
* Horowhenua Community Trust Levin Domain, Levin
* 3 September 14:30
| East Coast | 33–13 | Wairarapa Bush |
| | | Try: Inia Katea Con: Trent Vatselias Pen: Trent Vatselias (2) |
* Whakarua Park, Ruatoria
* 3 September 14:30
| South Canterbury | 39–8 | West Coast |
| Try: Tevita Latu, Sam Baird, Scott Norton, Eric Smith Con: Scott Norton (2) Pen: Scott Norton (5) | | Try: Christian Tupuola Pen: Luke Hughes |
* Fraser Park, Timaru
* 3 September 14:00
| Thames Valley | 22–20 | Buller |
| Try: Jimmy Horsford, Lance Easton Con: David Harrison (2) Pen: David Harrison | | Try: Sam Marris, Lee Nelmes Con: Andrew Stephens (2) Pen: Andrew Stephens (2) |
* Paeroa Domain, Paeroa

### Week 6

* 10 September 14:30
| Wanganui | 76–8 | Horowhenua-Kapiti |
| Try: Sam Scown (3), Simon Dibben, Vaan Rauhina, Tom Gilbert, Andrew Evans, Andrew Retallick, Sam Brown, Daniel Fitzgerald, Ace Malo, Jon Smyth Con: Ace Malo (8) | | Try: Marcus Sweetman Pen: Tiakina Manga |
* Cooks Gardens, Wanganui
* 10 September 14:30
| Mid Canterbury | 34–22 | South Canterbury |
| Try: Ben Kitching (2), Richie Catherwood, Mac Sykes, Shane Kora Con: James Lash (2), John Dampney Drop: James Lash | | Try: Kali Latu, Sekope Maea Pen: Scott Norton (4) |
* Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton
* 10 September 13:00
| Buller | 8–11 | North Otago |
| Try: William Sakuru, Phil Gibson | | Try: Hamish McKenzie Pen: Ben Patston Drop: Ben Patston |
* Victoria Square, Westport
* 10 September 13:00
| East Coast | 31–26 | Thames Valley |
| Try: Rua Tipoki, Sikeli Vorenasu (2) Con: Clayton Kiwara (2) Pen: Clayton Kiwara (4) | | Try: Jimmy Horsford Pen: Joe Reynolds (7) |
* Whakarua Park, Ruatoria
* 10 September 14:30
| Wairarapa Bush | 21–23 | Poverty Bay |
| Try: Nick Olson, Jake Tipene Con: Trent Vatselias Pen: Trent Vatselias (3) | | Try: Lloyd Gabriel, Ratu Vosaki Con: Scott Leighton (2) Pen: Scott Leighton (3) |
* Carterton Rugby Club, Carterton
* 10 September 13:00
| King Country | 18–36 | West Coast |
| Try: Dean Church, Tom Sherson Con: Sean Cressy Pen: Sean Cressy (2) | | Try: Robert Gabriel, Napole Langi, Mosese Funaki, Maleli Mudu, James Ward Con: Shannon Donald (3), Luke Hughes Pen: Luke Hughes |
* Rugby Park, Te Kūiti

### Week 7

* 17 September 13:00
| West Coast | 12–69 | Wanganui |
* Rugby Park, Greymouth
* 17 September 13:00
| Mid Canterbury | 30–27 | Buller |
* Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton
* 17 September 14:30
| South Canterbury | 16–17 | North Otago |
* Fraser Park, Timaru
* 17 September 13:00
| King Country | 14–26 | Thames Valley |
* Owen Delany Park, Taupo
* 17 September 13:00
| East Coast | 30–29 | Poverty Bay |
* Uawa Domain, Tolaga Bay
* 17 September 14:30
| Wairarapa Bush | 47–10 | Horowhenua-Kapiti |
* Carterton Rugby Club, Carterton

### Week 8

* 24 September 13:00
| Buller | 21–15 | West Coast |
| Try: Shane Grieve, Phil Beveridge Con: Andrew Stephens Pen: Andrew Stephens (2), Phil Gibson | | Try: James Ward, Garry Little Con: Corey Deans Pen: Corey Deans |
* Victoria Square, Westport
* 24 September 13:30
| North Otago | 24–18 | Mid Canterbury |
| Try: Whiria Meltzer, Carn Parata, Luke Hernden Con: Jason Forrest, Ben Patston (2) Pen: Jason Forrest | | Try: Nick Wilson, Manase Nonu Con: Stephan van Gruting Pen: Stephan van Gruting (2) |
* Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru
* 24 September 13:00
| Thames Valley | 28–37 | South Canterbury |
| Try: Penalty try, Vin Hutchings, Caleb Brown, Alan McLean Con: Joe Reynolds (2) Pen: Joe Reynolds (2) Drop: Joe Reynolds | | Try: Foi Saena, Jarred Trevathan, Kali Latu, Matt Fetu Con: Scott Norton (3) Pen: Scott Norton (2) |
* Paeroa Domain, Paeroa
* 24 September 13:00
| Poverty Bay | 36–21 | King Country |
| Try: Paul Tikomainivalu (3), Kelvin Smith, John Stewart Con: Scott Leighton (4) Pen: Scott Leighton | | Try: Leigh Thompson, Dean Church, Charles Hubbard Con: Sean Cressy (3) |
* More FM Rugby Park, Gisborne
* 24 September 14:30
| Wanganui | 29–0 | Wairarapa Bush |
| Try: Cole Baldwin, Mark Davis, Darren Munro, Rusiate Vukula Con: Mark Davis (3) Pen: Mark Davis | | Try: Andrew McLean, Matt O'Connor Con: Trent Vatselias (2) |
* Cooks Gardens, Wanganui
* 24 September 16:00
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 16–35 | East Coast |
* Otaki Domain, Otaki

## Finals
### Lochore Cup

Semi-finals
* 1 October 13:00
| Buller | 30–32 | Poverty Bay |
| Try: Ben Coman, Will Sakuru, Phil Gibson, Bevan Tetai Con: Andrew Stephens (2) Pen: Andrew Stephens (2) | | Try: John Stewart (2), Kelvin Smith, Ratu Vosaki Con: Scott Leighton (3) Pen: Scott Leighton (2) |
* Victoria Square, Westport
* 1 October 13:00
| South Canterbury | 30–27 | Thames Valley |
| Try: Kali Latu, Jarred Matthews, Andrew Scarlett, Shannon McRae Con: Scott Norton (2) Pen: Scott Norton (2) | | Try: Joe Reynolds (2), Lance Easton, Mike Smith Con: Joe Reynolds, David Harrison Pen: Joe Reynolds |
* Fraser Park, Timaru
Final
* 8 October 15:05
| South Canterbury | 22–49 | Poverty Bay |
| Try: Eric Smith, Junior Sala, Sam Baird Con: Scott Norton (2) Pen: Scott Norton | | Try: Sam Stewart, Daniel Harris, Sione Ngatu, Kelvin Smith, Ratu Vosake, Murray Hewson Con: Scott Leighton (5) Pen: Scott Leighton (3) |
* Fraser Park, Timaru

### Meads Cup

Semi-finals
* 1 October 13:00
| Wanganui | 32–22 | Mid Canterbury |
| Try: Tevita Tafui, Jason Hughes, Rusiate Vukula, Denning Tyrell Con: Mark Davis (3) Pen: Mark Davis (2) | | Try: Nick Wilson (2), Josh Colgan Con: Stephan van Gruting (2) Pen: Stephan van Gruting |
* Cooks Gardens, Wanganui
* 1 October 13:00
| North Otago | 17–23 | East Coast |
| Try: Faaitu Tuamoheloa, Whiria Meltzer Con: Ben Patston (2) Pen: Ben Patston | | Try: Sikeli Vorenasu (2), Ngarimu Simpkins Con: Clayton Kiwara Pen: Clayton Kiwara (2) |
* Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru
Final
* 8 October 12:35
| Wanganui | 30–10 | East Coast |
| Try: Simon Dibben, Steelie Koro Con: Mark Davis Pen: Mark Davis (6) | | Try: Tom Teaeki Con: Clayton Kiwara Pen: Clayton Kiwara |
* Cooks Gardens, Wanganui