# 2008 Heartland Championship

The 2008 Heartland Championship was the third season of the Heartland Championship, a provincial rugby union competition involving 12 teams from New Zealand split into two pools. Matches started on Saturday 23 August 2008 and ended with the final on 25 October.
The 2008 season was to be the last in its current format. On 11 August 2008 the New Zealand Rugby Union announced that Tasman and Northland would be the two teams relegated from the Air New Zealand Cup after the completion of the 2008 season. Both teams failed to meet criteria which included financial stability, population, player training and development, playing history, and administration. This might have meant that the Tasman union would have been split into its constituent Nelson Bays and Marlborough unions, and that the Heartland Championship would have needed to accommodate three further teams. On 26 September 2008 the New Zealand Rugby Union rescinded this decision.
Wanganui won the Meads Cup and Poverty Bay won the Lochore Cup. Each team has reached the respective cup final in all three years of the Heartland Championship. Poverty Bay has won each Lochore Cup, while 2008 was Wanganui's first Meads Cup championship.

## Standings

The 12 teams were split into two pools, with the top three from each pool after five rounds advancing to the Meads Cup round, while the bottom three from each pool played for the Lochore Cup.

### Pool A

* Qualified for Meads Cup
* Qualified for Lochore Cup
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP1 | BP2 | Pts |
| 1 | North Otago | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 123 | 75 | +48 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | West Coast | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 110 | 87 | +23 | 2 | 2 | 16 |
| 3 | Buller | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 83 | 82 | +1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| 4 | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 107 | 125 | −18 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| 5 | Wairarapa Bush | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 116 | 147 | −31 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 6 | South Canterbury | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 93 | 116 | −23 | 1 | 1 | 8 |

### Pool B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP1 | BP2 | Pts |
| 1 | Wanganui | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 240 | 53 | +187 | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| 2 | Mid Canterbury | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 171 | 96 | +75 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| 3 | King Country | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 119 | 96 | +23 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| 4 | Poverty Bay | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 117 | 90 | +27 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 5 | Thames Valley | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 64 | 171 | −107 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | East Coast | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 220 | −205 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Table notes

* Pos = Table position
* Pld = Played
* W = Win (worth 4 points)
* D = Draw (worth 2 points)
* L = Loss (worth 0 points)
* PF = For (total points scored)
* PA = Against (total points scored against)
* PD = Points difference
* BP1 = Try bonus points (1 bonus point awarded to any team that scores 4 tries or more regardless of win/loss/draw)
* BP2 = Losing bonus points (1 bonus point awarded to the losing side if the loss is by 7 points or fewer)
* Pts = Progressive points tally
NB:
* It is possible to receive two bonus points in a loss.
* In the event of a tie on points, the higher-ranked team is decided on the basis of who won their meeting in pool play. If they remain tied, then it is decided by overall points difference.

## Fixtures and results
### Round 1

| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Attendance |
| A | Wairarapa Bush (2 BP) | 31-37 | West Coast (1 BP) | 23 August 2008 | Masterton | 1,000 |
| A | Buller | 18-17 | South Canterbury (1 BP) | 23 August 2008 | Westport | 400 |
| A | North Otago (1 BP) | 32-11 | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 23 August 2008 | Oamaru | 750 |
| B | Mid Canterbury (1 BP) | 49-20 | Thames Valley | 23 August 2008 | Ashburton | 200 |
| B | King Country | 18-0 | Poverty Bay | 23 August 2008 | Te Kūiti | 550 |
| B | Wanganui (1 BP) | 71-6 | East Coast | 23 August 2008 | Wanganui | 1,100 |

### Round 2

| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Attendance |
| A | West Coast (1 BP) | 9-15 | North Otago | 30 August 2008 | Greymouth | 300 |
| A | Buller | 16-16 | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 30 August 2008 | Westport | 500 |
| A | South Canterbury | 19-27 | Wairarapa Bush (1 BP) | 30 August 2008 | Timaru | 500 |
| B | Thames Valley | 0-43 | Wanganui (1 BP) | 30 August 2008 | Paeroa | 300 |
| B | King Country (1 BP) | 32-3 | East Coast | 30 August 2008 | Taupō | 800 |
| B | Poverty Bay | 13-26 | Mid Canterbury (1 BP) | 30 August 2008 | Gisborne | 550 |

### Round 3

| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| A | Horowhenua-Kapiti (1BP) | 13-15 | West Coast | 6 September 2008 | Paraparaumu |
| A | North Otago | 10-18 | South Canterbury | 6 September 2008 | Oamaru |
| A | Wairarapa Bush (1BP) | 8-11 | Buller | 6 September 2008 | Masterton |
| B | East Coast | 3-20 | Thames Valley | 6 September 2008 | Ruatoria |
| B | Mid Canterbury (1BP) | 32-17 | King Country | 6 September 2008 | Ashburton |
| B | Wanganui (1BP) | 36-16 | Poverty Bay | 6 September 2008 | Wanganui |
This was the first time Buller had beaten Wairarapa Bush at Masterton in the history of the two unions' meetings.

### Round 4

| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| A | Buller | 18–22 | North Otago | 13 September 2008 | Westport |
| A | South Canterbury | 8–30 | West Coast (1BP) | 13 September 2008 | Timaru |
| A | Wairarapa Bush (2BP) | 31–36 | Horowhenua-Kapiti (1BP) | 13 September 2008 | Masterton |
| B | Poverty Bay (1BP) | 43–10 | Thames Valley | 13 September 2008 | Gisborne |
| B | King Country | 19–47 | Wanganui (1BP) | 13 September 2008 | Te Kūiti |
| B | Mid Canterbury (1BP) | 52–3 | East Coast | 13 September 2008 | Ashburton |

### Round 5

| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Attendance |
| A | West Coast (1BP) | 19–20 | Buller | 20 September 2008 | Greymouth | 600 |
| A | North Otago (1BP) | 44–19 | Wairarapa Bush | 20 September 2008 | Oamaru | 600 |
| A | Horowhenua-Kapiti (1BP) | 31–31 | South Canterbury (1BP) | 20 September 2008 | Levin | 500 |
| B | Thames Valley | 14–33 | King Country (1BP) | 20 September 2008 | Te Aroha | 600 |
| B | Wanganui (1BP) | 43–12 | Mid Canterbury | 20 September 2008 | Wanganui | 1,500 |
| B | East Coast | 0–43 | Poverty Bay (1BP) | 20 September 2008 | Ruatoria | 500 |
Buller wins the 2008 Rundle Cup

## Meads and Lochore Cups
### Standings
#### Lochore Cup Pool

* Qualified for playoff
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP1 | BP2 | Pts |
| 1 | Poverty Bay | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 196 | 121 | +75 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| 2 | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 234 | 174 | +60 | 5 | 0 | 21 |
| 3 | Wairarapa Bush | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 202 | 194 | +8 | 4 | 3 | 19 |
| 4 | South Canterbury | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 181 | 167 | +14 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
| 5 | Thames Valley | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 97 | 255 | −158 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | East Coast | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 50 | 306 | −356 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Meads Cup Pool

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP1 | BP2 | Pts |
| 1 | Wanganui | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 353 | 78 | +275 | 7 | 0 | 39 |
| 2 | Mid Canterbury | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 225 | 129 | +96 | 5 | 0 | 33 |
| 3 | North Otago | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 169 | 117 | +52 | 3 | 1 | 24 |
| 4 | West Coast | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 122 | 146 | −24 | 2 | 3 | 21 |
| 5 | Buller | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 135 | 164 | −29 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| 6 | King Country | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 157 | 172 | −15 | 3 | 1 | 16 |

### Round 6

| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue | Attendance |
| M | Wanganui (1BP) | 42–10 | Buller | 27 September 2008 | Wanganui | 1,200 |
| M | North Otago (1BP) | 27–8 | King Country | 27 September 2008 | Oamaru | 300 |
| M | Mid Canterbury | 7–5 | West Coast (1BP) | 27 September 2008 | Ashburton | 200 |
| L | Horowhenua-Kapiti (1BP) | 73–7 | East Coast | 27 September 2008 | Levin | 700 |
| L | Poverty Bay | 19–5 | South Canterbury | 27 September 2008 | Gisborne | 500 |
| L | Wairarapa Bush | 11–0 | Thames Valley | 27 September 2008 | Masterton | 400 |

### Round 7

| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| M | West Coast | 7–52 | Wanganui (1BP) | 4 October 2008 | Westport |
| M | North Otago (1BP) | 11–15 | Mid Canterbury | 4 October 2008 | Oamaru |
| M | Buller | 25–8 | King Country | 4 October 2008 | Westport |
| L | Thames Valley | 6–36 | Horowhenua-Kapiti (1BP) | 4 October 2008 |
| L | Poverty Bay | 24–8 | Wairarapa Bush | 4 October 2008 | Gisborne |
| L | East Coast | 5–46 | South Canterbury (1BP) | 4 October 2008 | Ruatoria |

### Round 8

| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| Pool | Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| M | Wanganui | 19–8 | North Otago | 11 October 2008 | Wanganui |
| M | Mid Canterbury (1BP) | 32–17 | Buller | 11 October 2008 | Ashburton |
| M | King Country (2BP) | 22–24 | West Coast | 11 October 2008 | Taupō |
| L | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 18–36 | Poverty Bay (1BP) | 11 October 2008 | Levin |
| L | South Canterbury (1BP) | 37–27 | Thames Valley | 11 October 2008 | Timaru |
| L | Wairarapa Bush (1BP) | 67–23 | East Coast | 11 October 2008 | Masterton |

## Knockout stage
### Lochore Cup

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 18 October – Gisborne | 18 October – Gisborne |
| Poverty Bay | 43 |
| Poverty Bay | 43 | 25 October – Gisborne | 25 October – Gisborne |
| South Canterbury | 30 | 25 October – Gisborne | 25 October – Gisborne |
| South Canterbury | 30 | Poverty Bay | 26 |
| 18 October – Levin | 18 October – Levin | | Poverty Bay | 26 |
| 18 October – Levin | 18 October – Levin | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 5 |
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 37 | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 5 |
| Wairarapa Bush | 17 | | |

#### Semifinals

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| Poverty Bay | 43–30 | South Canterbury | 18 October 2008 | Gisborne |
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 37–17 | Wairarapa Bush | 18 October 2008 | Levin |

#### Final

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| Poverty Bay | 26–5 | Horowhenua-Kapiti | 25 October 2008 | Gisborne |

### Meads Cup

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 18 October – Wanganui | 18 October – Wanganui |
| Wanganui | 40 |
| Wanganui | 40 | 25 October – Wanganui | 25 October – Wanganui |
| West Coast | 18 | 25 October – Wanganui | 25 October – Wanganui |
| West Coast | 18 | Wanganui | 27 |
| 18 October – Ashburton | 18 October – Ashburton | | Wanganui | 27 |
| 18 October – Ashburton | 18 October – Ashburton | Mid Canterbury | 12 |
| Mid Canterbury | 38 | Mid Canterbury | 12 |
| North Otago | 24 | | |

#### Semifinals

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| Wanganui | 40–18 | West Coast | 18 October 2008 | Wanganui |
| Mid Canterbury | 38–24 | North Otago | 18 October 2008 | Ashburton |

#### Final

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| Wanganui | 27–12 | Mid Canterbury | 25 October 2008 | Wanganui |