Contents

2012 ITM Cup

2012 ITM Cup season
Countries	New Zealand
Date	23 August – 27 October
Champions	Canterbury
Runners-up	Auckland
Promoted	Counties Manukau
Relegated	Hawke's Bay
Matches played	76
Tries scored	448 (average 5.9 per match)
Top point scorer	Gareth Anscombe (Auckland) 191 points
Top try scorer	Johnny McNicholl (Canterbury) 10 tries
Official website
www.provincial.rugby
← 2011 2013 →

The 2012 ITM Cup season was the seventh season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition since it turned professional in 2006. The regular season began on 23 August, when Hawke's Bay hosted Auckland. It involved the top fourteen rugby unions of New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, the competition was known as the ITM Cup and it was the third season under the lead sponsor. The winner of the Championship, Counties Manukau was promoted to the Premiership, the seventh placed Premiership team, Hawke's Bay was relegated to the Championship.

Format[edit]

The ITM Cup standings were sorted by a competition points system. Four points were awarded to the winning team, a draw equaled two points, whilst a loss amounted to zero points. Unions could also win their side a respectable bonus point. To receive a bonus point, they must have scored four tries or more or lose by seven or fewer points or less.^[1] Each team was placed on their total points received. If necessary of a tiebreaker, when two or more teams finish on equal points, the union who defeated the other in a head-to-head got placed higher. In case of a draw between them, the side with the biggest points deferential margin got rights to be ranked above. If they were tied on points difference, it was then decided by a highest scored try count or a coin toss.^[2] This seeding format was implemented since the beginning of the 2006 competition.

The competition included a promotion-relegation process with the winner of the Championship receiving automatic promotion to the Premiership, replacing the seventh-placed team in the Premiership which was relegated to the Championship for the following year. The regular season consisted of two types of matches. The internal division matches were when each team played the other six unions in their division once, home or away. The cross-division matches were when each team played four teams from the other division, thus missing out on three teams, each from the opposite division. Each union played home or away games against teams from the other division, making a total of ten competition games for each union.^[3] The finals format allowed the top four teams from each division move on to the semi-finals. The top two division winners, based on table points, received a home semi-final. In the first round of the finals, the semi-finals, the second division winner hosted the third division winner, and the first division winner hosted the fourth division winner. The final was hosted by the top remaining seed.^[4]

Standings[edit]

Source: ITM Cup standings 2012^[5]

Standings progression[edit]

Regular season[edit]

The 2012 ITM Cup was played across eight weeks with every team playing two Tuesday or Wednesday night fixtures in a double-up round where they played twice that week. The competition started on Thursday, 23 August, with Hawke's Bay taking on AucklandatMcLean Park.^[6]

Week 1[edit]

Bay of Plenty	22–37	Taranaki
Try: Lelia Masaga 23' Culum Retallick 64' Lance MacDonald 75' Con: Kendrick Lynn (0/1) Nick McCashin (2/2) 65', 76' Pen: Kendrick Lynn (1/3) 4'	Report	Try: James Broadhurst 28' Waisake Naholo 36' Beauden Barrett 49' Jason Eaton 79' Con: Beauden Barrett (4/4) 29', 37', 50', 79' Pen: Beauden Barrett (3/3) 8', 17', 71' Cards: Willie Rickards  39'

Otago	46–34	Northland
Try: Jayden Spence 9' Tamati Ellison 19' Tony Ensor 55' Buxton Popoali'i 68' Con: Hayden Parker (4/4) 10', 20', 55', 69' Pen: Hayden Parker (6/7) 3', 14', 27', 44', 51', 65'	Report	Try: Matt Wallis 22' Jack Whetton 42' Samisoni Fisilau 47' Eddie Paea 72' Con: Ash Moeke (4/4) 23', 42', 48', 73' Pen: Ash Moeke (2/2) 12', 35' Cards: Samisoni Fisilau  31'

Week 2[edit]

Bay of Plenty	31–19	Otago
Try: Tristan Moran (2) 54', 67' Luke Braid 57' Con: Nick McCashin (2/3) 55', 59' Pen: Nick McCashin (4/5) 8', 22', 25', 38' Cards: Kendrick Lynn  77'	Report	Try: Tony Ensor 77' Con: Hayden Parker (1/1) 77' Pen: Hayden Parker (4/5) 6', 20', 31', 40' Cards: TJ Ioane  53'

Hawke's Bay	37–30	Counties Manukau
Try: Hika Elliot 38' Tua Saseve 60' Daniel Waenga 71' Con: Daniel Waenga (2/3) 39', 71' Pen: Daniel Waenga (6/6) 10', 16', 23', 26', 34', 52'	Report	Try: Tim Nanai-Williams 13' Augustine Pulu 19' Sherwin Stowers 48' Con: Baden Kerr (3/3) 13', 20', 49' Pen: Baden Kerr (3/3) 5', 8', 29' Cards: Simon Lemalu  33'

Waikato	27–29	Northland
Try: Matt Vant Leven 7' Marcel Cummings-Toone 28' Declan O'Donnell 73' Con: Trent Renata (3/3) 8', 28', 73' Pen: Trent Renata (2/4) 37', 50' Cards: Sam Christie  56'	Report	Try: Fa'atoina Autagavaia 9' Mateo Malupo 42' Dan Pryor 77' Con: Ash Moeke (1/3) 78' Pen: Ash Moeke (4/5) 3', 19', 32', 47'

RS – Taranaki	49–40	Tasman
Try: Blade Thomson 1' Kurt Baker (2) 8', 25' Waisake Naholo 18' Beauden Barrett 79' Con: Beauden Barrett (3/5) 2', 9', 18' Pen: Beauden Barrett (6/7) 7', 37', 44', 46', 49', 57'	Report	Try: James Lowe 5' Campbell Johnstone 22' Tim Perry 32' Quentin MacDonald 41' Robbie Malneek 60' Con: Andrew Goodman (3/5) 5', 23', 32' Pen: Andrew Goodman (3/3) 11', 30', 38' Cards: Vernon Fredericks  56'

Week 3[edit]

North Harbour	15–27	Counties Manukau
Try: Cory Aporo (2) 39', 60' Con: James Semple (1/1) 61' Bryn Hall (0/1) Pen: Bryn Hall (1/2) 8'	Report	Try: Simon Lemalu 20' Tim Nanai-Williams 31' Frank Halai 39' Maka Tatafu 65' Con: Baden Kerr (2/3) 20', 39' Tim Nanai-Williams (0/1) Pen: Baden Kerr (1/2) 42' Cards: Bundee Aki  72'

Northland	20–33	Manawatu
Try: Daniel Faleafa 74' Rene Ranger 78' Con: Ash Moeke (2/2) 74', 79' Pen: Ash Moeke (2/2) 13', 27' Cards: Justin Davies  44' Bryce Williams  57'	Report	Try: Grant Polson 15' Jason Emery 24' Craig Clare 38' George Tilsley 66' Con: Craig Clare (2/4) 15', 39' Pen: Craig Clare (3/4) 11', 44', 62'

Southland	10–15	Otago
Try: Nathan Hohaia 39' Con: Marty McKenzie (1/1) 39' Pen: Marty McKenzie (1/3) 66'	Report	Pen: Hayden Parker (4/5) 17', 23', 38', 49' Peter Breen (1/1) 78' Glenn Dickson (0/1) Cards: Rob Verbakel  27'

Northland	18–17	North Harbour
Pen: Ash Moeke (6/6) 4', 26', 42', 51', 60', 72' Cards: Fa'atoina Autagavaia  73'	Report	Try: Nafi Tuitavake 20' Luke Devcich 39' Con: Luke Devcich (2/2) 20', 40' Pen: Luke Devcich (1/3) 39' James Semple (0/1) Cards: Filo Paulo  32'

Week 4[edit]

Waikato	15–6	Bay of Plenty
Pen: Trent Renata (5/7) 10', 24', 54', 61', 73' Cards: Piers Francis  36'	Report	Pen: Nick McCashin (2/5) 6', 23'

Week 5[edit]

Hawke's Bay	42–41	Bay of Plenty
Try: Gillies Kaka (3) 25', 45', 59' Penalty try 39' Tevita Fomai 53' Ihaia West 79' Con: Daniel Waenga (1/3) 39' Ihaia West (2/3) 54', 79' Pen: Daniel Waenga (2/3) 5', 17'	Report	Try: Sam Cane 10' Nick McCashin 32' Maru Henry 35' Lelia Masaga 42' Phil Burleigh 48' Con: Nick McCashin (5/5) 10', 33', 36', 42', 49' Pen: Nick McCashin (1/2) 20' Chris Noakes (1/1) 73' Cards: Tanerau Latimer  39'

Auckland	43–30	Wellington
Try: Gareth Anscombe 22' Penalty try 28' Liaki Moli 36' Ben Lam 66' Con: Gareth Anscombe (4/4) 22', 29', 37', 66' Pen: Gareth Anscombe (5/7) 7', 13', 46', 50', 78'	Report	Try: Jeffery Toomaga-Allen 3' Charlie Ngatai 40' Alapati Leiua (2) 42', 70' Con: Jason Woodward (2/4) 4', 71' Pen: Jason Woodward (2/2) 16', 34' Cards: Eric Sione  27'

Waikato	27–52	Canterbury
Try: Toby Smith 23' Ben May 33' Brendon Leonard 39' Con: Trent Renata (3/3) 23', 34', 40' Pen: Trent Renata (2/4) 9', 47'	Report	Try: Nasi Manu 2' Robbie Fruean (2) 6', 79' Johnny McNicholl 12' George Whitelock 25' Paea Faʻanunu 66' Con: Tom Taylor (5/6) 7', 12', 26', 66', 80' Pen: Tom Taylor (4/5) 22', 54', 61', 69' Cards: Johnny McNicholl  18'

Week 6[edit]

Bay of Plenty	26–36	Wellington
Try: Mafileo Kefu 3' Lelia Masaga 54' Con: Chris Noakes (2/2) 4', 55' Pen: Chris Noakes (4/6) 7', 36', 39', 59' Nick McCashin (0/1)	Report	Try: Ross Filipo 9' Alapati Leiua 23' Shaun Treeby 50' Con: Lima Sopoaga (3/3) 10', 24', 51' Pen: Lima Sopoaga (5/5) 2', 18', 39', 62', 78' Cards: Jeremy Thrush  79'

Auckland	22–18	Counties Manukau
Try: Sean Polwart 11' Con: Gareth Anscombe (1/1) 11' Pen: Gareth Anscombe (5/6) 32', 37', 39', 44', 67' Cards: Sean Brookman  79'	Report	Pen: Baden Kerr (6/6) 7', 13', 24', 27', 35', 63' Cards: Mahonri Schwalger  43'

Bay of Plenty	31–19	Northland
Try: Daniel Goodwin (2) 8', 54' Carl Axtens 62' Greg Pleasants-Tate 64' Con: Chris Noakes (4/4) 8', 55', 63', 65' Pen: Chris Noakes (1/4) 3'	Report	Try: Mathew Wright (2) 36', 77' Fa'atoina Autagavaia 70' Con: Ash Moeke (2/3) 37', 71' Pen: Ash Moeke (0/1) Cards: Jack Ram  62'

Week 7[edit]

Taranaki	10–46	Waiakto – RS
Try: Jamison Gibson-Park 60' Con: Frazier Climo (1/1) 61' Pen: Frazier Climo (1/2) 8'	Report	Try: Marcel Cummings-Toone 3' Trent Renata 11' Sam Christie 18' Alex Bradley 36' Tim Mikkelson (3) 44', 49', 79' Con: Trent Renata (4/7) 12', 19', 50', 79' Pen: Trent Renata (1/2) 26' Cards: Tawera Kerr-Barlow  58'

Week 8[edit]

Otago	19–24	Auckland
Try: Sam Anderson-Heather 19' Con: Hayden Parker (1/1) 20' Pen: Hayden Parker (3/3) 6', 15', 58' Glenn Dickson (1/2) 79' Cards: Hugh Blake  53'	Report	Try: Dave Thomas 10' Charles Piutau 68' Con: Gareth Anscombe (1/2) 69' Pen: Gareth Anscombe (4/4) 3', 31', 39', 53' Cards: Liaki Moli  60'

Northland	31–44	Counties Manukau
Try: Mateo Malupo (2) 26', 32' Derek Carpenter 65' Dan Pryor 70' Mathew Wright 77' Con: Mathew Wright (2/2) 71', 78' Ash Moeke (1/3) 66'	Report	Try: Rey Lee-Lo 13' Tim Nanai-Williams (2) 38', 58' Matt Talaese 44' Sikeli Nabou 49' Sherwin Stowers 68' Con: Tim Nanai-Williams (3/5) 14', 38', 59' Rayhan Laulala (1/1) 69' Pen: Tim Nanai-Williams (2/2) 8', 18' Cards: Maama Vaipulu  24'

RS – Waikato	28–3	Hawke's Bay
Try: Alex Bradley 30' Declan O'Donnell 50' Savenaca Tokula 61' Con: Trent Renata (2/3) 31', 51' Pen: Trent Renata (3/4) 18', 25', 39'	Report	Pen: Andrew Horrell (1/1) 29' Cards: Maselino Paulino  46'

Wellington	33–17	Taranaki
Try: Tim Bateman 18' Scott Fuglistaller 30' Jason Woodward (2) 50', 58' Con: Jason Woodward (2/4) 19', 31' Pen: Jason Woodward (3/3) 13', 42', 46'	Report	Try: Jason Eaton 61' James Broadhurst 74' James Marshall 78' Con: Beauden Barrett (1/3) 76' Cards: Jarrad Hoeata  44'

Play-offs[edit]

Semi-finals[edit]

Championship[edit]

Otago	41–34	Tasman
Try: Hemopo 5' c Thomson 36' m Tanaka 60' c Ensor 66' c Con: Dickson (3/4) 6', 61', 67' Pen: Dickson (5/5) 14', 51', 63', 74', 78'	Report	Try: Goodman 20' c Betham 45' c Nikoro 57' m Con: Goodman (2/3) 21', 46' Pen: Goodman (3/5) 9', 11', 71' Nikoro (2/3) 30', 34' Cards: Levi  56'