A reshuffle of draws has rectified an anomaly that emerged from the newly-formatted Tasman Tanning Wanganui premier rugby second round competition.
When Wanganui Rugby Union's council of clubs adopted the new format for the second round that starts next weekend it was revealed Ratana had no home games, while Marist had four, so a reshuffle was ordered.
The format, proposed by the Ruapehu club, splits the teams into two groups with the sides finishing first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth forming Pool A and those finishing second, fourth, sixth and eighth forming Pool B. The traditional bye will apply each week.
The teams will start the second round with half of their first round points totals - Pool A: Ruapehu 17, Border 12, Ratana 11, Taihape 5.5, Marton 5. Pool B: Kaierau 12.5, Pirates 12, Marist 10.5, Utiku OB 5.
As decided at the council of clubs meetings, teams in Pool A will play four matches for 4pts a game and teams in Pool B play five games with 3pts a match. Bonus points will apply.
The top two teams from both groups will play the semifinals, while the third and fourth placed teams will play in the consolation semifinal. The wooden spooners will bow out. The senior competition will split into three - Pool A: Teams finishing 1, 6, 7, 12, Pool B: 2, 5, 8, 11 and Pool C: 3, 4, 9, 10 - for the second round starting June 23. Each pool winner and the next highest going to the championship semis, two runners ups and the next two into the consolation and the remaining four into the plate.
LATEST DRAWS (home teams first)
Premier
June 9: Marist v Ruapehu, Kaierau v Taihape, Utiku OB v Ratana, Marton v Pirates, Border a bye.
June 16: Pirates v Border, Ratana v Marist, Ruapehu v Kaierau, Taihape v Utiku OB, Marton a bye.
June 23: Marist v Marton, Taihape v Pirates, Border v Utiku OB, Kaierau v Ratana, Ruapehu a bye.
June 30: Pirates v Ruapehu, Marist v Taihape, Border v Kaierau, Utiku OB v Marton, Ratana a bye.
July 7: Pirates v Ratana, Border v Marist, Marton v Kaierau, Ruapehu v Utiku OB, Taihape a bye.
Senior
(last two games round one)
June 9: Tech v Utiku OB, Celtic v Ruapehu, Marist v Counties, Kaierau v Taihape, Hunterville v Pirates, Ratana v Border.
June 16: Ruapehu v Tech, Utiku OB v Pirates, Taihape v Marist, Counties v Celtic, Ratana v Kaierau, Border v Hunterville (at either Waverley or Wanganui).