Saying goodbye: Rene Ranger
Bottom of the Championship will host bottom of the Premiership in the ITM Cup this week as Northland face Bay of Plenty at Toll Stadium in Whangarei.
The Steamers, who are already relegated to the second tier in 2014 after claiming just one win from nine games this season, will take on a Northland side determined to give long-serving player Rene Ranger a winning send-off.
New Zealand international centre Ranger will leave the Taniwha after this weekend’s game to take up a contract at Top 14 outfit Montpellier.
And to mark the occasion, Northland will have 1000 lookalike masks which will be at the entry gate. Fans can pick up their mask with a gold coin donation which will go to charity.
Northland know that a victory over Bay of Plenty, coupled by Canterbury overcoming North Harbour, would spare them bottom spot in the Championship. The Steamers can’t avoid finishing with the Premiership wooden spoon and with it, relegation to the lower league.
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NORTHLAND v BAY OF PLENTY Saturday 12 October, 5.35pm at Toll Stadium, Whangarei Played: 54, 1950-2012 Northland wins: 31 | Bay of Plenty wins: 22 | Draws: 1 Last match: Bay of Plenty 31 Northland 19, 30.09.12 in Mt Maunganui (ITMC) Last Northland win: Northland 31 Bay of Plenty 24, 21.10.10 in Whangarei (ITMC) Biggest Northland score: 49 (49-23), 28.09.02 in Whangarei (NPC) Biggest Bay of Plenty score: 51 (51-3), 08.10.05 in Mt Maunganui (NPC) Biggest differential: Bay of Plenty by 48 (51-3), 08.10.05 in Mt Maunganui (NPC) |
The teams:
Northland: 15 Latiume Fosita, 14 Whiria Meltzer, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Derek Carpenter, 11 Mateo Malupo, 10 Daniel Hawkins, 9 Sonatan Takulua, 8 Jake Paringatai, 7 Ben Berridge, 6 Dan Pryor, 5 Tom Murday, 4 David Morgan, 3 Will Griff John, 2 Matt Moulds, 1 Ross Wright.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Justin Davies, 18 Bryce Williams, 19 Roy Griffin, 20 Nalu Tuigamala, 21 Ben Seymour, 22 Warren Dunn.
Bay of Plenty: 15 Elliot Hagen, 14 Tino Nemani, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Nick Evemy, 11 Kimani Sitauti, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Samisoni Fisilau, 8 Carl Axtens, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Johan Bardoul, 5 Josh Sole, 4 Cullum Retallick, 3 Pingi Tala’apitaga, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Kalem Chan Boon, 17 Joe Royal, 18 Joe Tupe, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 TeAihe Toma, 21 Dave Thomas, 22 Steve Honey.
Date: Saturday, October 12
Kick-off: 17:35 local (06:35 BST)
Venue: Toll Stadium, Whangarei
Referee: Kane McBride
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