Utiku Old Boys face tense wait as Border and Marist Celtic and Pirates chase Peter Rowe Cup

The Northern games in the Division 1 final round robin are this weekend. Photo / Bevan Conley

Both Ruapehu and Silks Audit Rātana have one last chance to keep their Division 1 hopes in their own hands come the Northern games in the final round robin this weekend, before the three-way split to three competitions.

Having picked up a bonus point last weekend while their points table neighbour Rātana got nothing, Ruapehu sit four points from safety if Rātana cannot secure anything in their away fixture with Byfords Readimix Taihape.

However, it will be the hardest task possible, trying to upend undefeated Waverley Harvesting Border, who have locked up the Trevor Olney Taonga and so will focus on retaining the Challenge Shield at Rochfort Park.

In Division 2, there is likewise an exciting finale to see who will be the inaugural winner of the Peter Rowe Cup.

Utiku Old Boys lead the table by four points but have the last bye, meaning both Direct Connect Marist Celtic and RockGas Whanganui Pirates, tied in second place, have the chance to snatch the Cup with victories over lower-table opponents.

Draw, May 22-23

Division 1

2.45pm kickoffs:

Challenge Shield – Ruapehu v Border, Rochfort Park; Taihape v Rātana, Memorial Park; Counties v Marist, Macnab Domain; Bye: Kaierau.

Division 2

1pm kickoffs unless noted (times subject to change):

May 22: Border v Celtic, Dallison Park, 6.30pm; May 23: Taihape v Kaierau, Memorial Park; Challenge Shield – Marton v Hunterville, Marton Park; Pirates v Counties, Spriggens Park; Bye: Utiku Old Boys.

Tasman Tanning Te Awa Wahine

May 22: Rātana v Freyberg, Country Club, 5.45pm; Marist Clovers v Kia Toa, Country Club, 7.30pm; May 23: Bush v OBM, Bush Sports Park, 12.45pm.