NPC

[Anders]

Sound advice from a wise man..

Cartman - Mighty East Coast have won the 3rd div for the past 2 seasons

They decided not to go up the first year cos of financial concerns but decided to bite the bullet for the upcoming season. Achieved mostly with homegrown

talent too, although former HB first-five Mano Flutey has been a key performer.

Not sure on the pro-rel details of the lower echelons - like i've mentioned, rugby's not one of my rounds at work - but i think they're still restructuring divs two and three and there are further changes afoot for next year.

Strong lean at the moment for Thames Valley to roll King Country at home in div two as a small home dog on the ML - will check with my contacts with both sides later today

 

[TORONTO-VIGILANTE]

cripes....enough info..

any online books carrying the NZ rugby ....?

my other ones don't...?

 

[turtle]

WOW excellent write ups Anders, but can money be made by betting with NZ TAB??? That is the question for me, hard enough winning without betting on 30c lines I reckon, so ATS will be out for me, however ML could be tempting.
Cartman have you been away that long that you have forgotten how the mighty Horowhenua almost won the 3rd division?? I have almost have and I live here (as you know).
Well good luck for those who bet on NPC, and I will watch with interest (for now).

[This message has been edited by turtle (edited 08-09-2001).]

 

[Cartman88]

Originally posted by turtle:
but can money be made by betting with NZ TAB??? That is the question for me, hard enough winning without betting on 30c lines

The NZ Tab and their 30c lines are going to make it tough alright. Still hoping one the Aussie books might chime in and take some action.

 

[Cartman88]

Originally posted by turtle:
Cartman have you been away that long that you have forgotten how the mighty Horowhenua almost won the 3rd division??

It is hard to believe I have been out of Levin for well over 3 years now but that is more than enough time to forget about the Horowhenua rugby team !!!!

 

[Cartman88]

Originally posted by Anders:
Mighty East Coast have won the 3rd div for the past 2 seasons

I am almost lost for words. That is like hearing Nth Qld winning the NRL or Freo winning the AFL !!!!

 

[AussieVamp2]

Originally posted by Anders:
We'll do our best Eric

And I'll ride the ... er .... what's Vegas' best-known animal, Fletch? The road runner?

barfly?

 

[AussieVamp2]

Originally posted by Anders:
oh, and Cartman, you wouldn't believe the amount of $ they generate from those bullchit prop plays.
Not big $ on NPC maybe but for a test match the public just lap it up - first tryscorer etc... the amount of NZ punters who still see sports betting as the opportunity for action rather than an investment is frankly, phenomenal

I don't think that is peculiarly a kiwi phenomenon

 

[AussieVamp2]

Originally posted by Anders:
Christ on a bike

Now I hope you've all taken that in; there will be a quiz later

Cool stuff. Happy to see that he is off his crutches too

 

[Whale]

TAB open with Otago -5.5, and Auckland -22.5 for tonights games, nothing too unexpected.

Otago at home -5.5 is the best of the two bets tonight, would like to see Auckland play a game before committing cash to the cause, although they will win vs Southland there is rain about in Auckland today so this may help the underdogs. Laying three tries in the wet (potentially), in the first week on a team that may not have the goods is never a good idea.


Otago -5.5 currently @ 1.85

 

[Anders]

NPC Rd 1

Three games tonight mark the opening of the NZ NPC division one competition. At this stage, I envisage one play. I will also make a tip for each game for those who like to play ML favourites either laying the wood or for parlays.

Otago (-5.5) host North Harbour at Carisbrook. Normally, that would be a number which the home team could cover but the hosts are without many key players due to All Black commitments - Jeff Wilson, Tony Brown, Pita Alatini, Byron Kelleher, Taine Randell, Carl Hoeft and Anton Oliver. That's enough to make me sit on the fence on this one. Rain and/or showers are also forecast and poor weather is the ultimate leveller in rugby. Ironically, the rain would probably help Otago - despite being without four or five key forwards they should still look to take on the visitors up front. New coach Laurie Mains had success with the Cats under this style in the Super 12 and with Kees Meuuws, Tom Willis, Marius Mostert and Paul Miller among the home team's forwards, that should be their strength. With the mercurial but inconsistent Brendan Laney running the cutter from first five, it's a raw and unpredictable looking Otago backline. Not so with Nth Harbour. That's undoubtedly their strength with veterans Glen Osborne (fullback) and Frano Botica (first five) assisted by wingers Aisea Tuilevu and Karl te Nana and tough halfback Mark Robinson. Their pack, however, will miss No 8 Ron Cribb and lock/blindside flanker Troy Flavell and the conditions are unlikely to suit the backs.
TIP: OTAGO

Auckland (-22.5) should kick off their NPC season with a comfortable win over visitors Southland. The gulf in class among the personnel between these two teams is quite wide. I may yet recommend a play on Auckland after checking the weather - it was forecast for rain tonight but an hour down the road in Hamilton's it's a decent day. Will get on the blower soon and see if we can get an accurate report. At this stage, no play - that's a lot of points to cover if it's wet, which the Southlanders will revel in.
TIP: AUCKLAND

The one play at present is for Taranaki (-7.5) to kick off their season in winning style - and covering - at home against Northland. This should see two teams who play the game in a similar vein clash in an uncompromising physical spectacle. Taranaki had the better of the first half in their pre-season clash against Waikato last week before the ultra-dangerous Waikato backline cut loose in the second spell. Northland don't have that kind of attacking prowess out wide. They may also struggle to impose their traditional punishing forward play this season as their squad is weaker than last year. They have been good and bad in warm-up games v Nth Harbour and Auckland. Taranaki will look to establish an edge up front with a tight and committed forward effort - neither team will mind the showers forecast - and have the kicking game through Mark Urwin and Daryl Lilley to get territorial advantage too.
TIP: TARANAKI
PLAY TARANAKI (-7.5)

GLTA

 

[Whale]

oops Taranaki play tonight as well

Agree with Anders they should cover the spread !

The TAB site is a nightmare. Thank god this is the only reason to use it!

[This message has been edited by Whale (edited 08-09-2001).]

 

[Anders]

No reward last night as Taranaki were beaten 25-20 at home by Northland. We were nicely on track with the 'naki leading 13-3 as the first half went into injury time but they conceded a soft try to give away the noted advantage they ground out in the first 40 minutes. Taranaki were well drilled as expected up front but will need to find more creativity to complement their forward pack.

In the other two matches, the line was very accurate as Otago beat North Harbour 15-12 and Auckland beat Southland 29-7 in the wet.

I have one dabble for today on a division two game; Thames Valley ($2.10) v King Country ($1.65).

King Country made the Div 2 semifinals last year but have lost some good performers from that squad, including backline stars Kuka Asolupe and Hayden Martine. In a warm-up game v Div One Waikato they competed early before being overwhlemed. Thames Valley have, on the other hand, strengthened their squad and have had a useful buildup with a training camp that feature coaching input from Chiefs supremo John Mitchell. Worth a punt on the home dog in the season opener.

PLAY THAMES VALLEY ML (+110)

GLTA

 

[Anders]

One play for today...

GAME FIVE)
Waikato v Counties Manukau, WestpacTrust Pk
Waikato -15.5

The home team should record a comfortable win today at their new, temporary venue of WestpacTrust Pk. While the visitors from up State Highway One will draw from last season's upset win at Pukekohe and the incentive of bragging rights over the Chiefs' Super 12 franchise partners, they will be out-matched.
Counties beat Waikato in a pre-season match but 11 of today's starting XV for the Mooloo men did not play in that game. Today, they will field what is close to their first-choice side - fullback Todd Miller will miss the game being a Sunday due to his religious beliefs - and have far more depth than their near-neighbours.
Counties' biggest problem is in the front row, where they are definitely struggling for Div One quality props. While Waikato's scrum isn't the strongest in the comp, promising young prop Deacon Manu and front row partner David Briggs should kick on nicely from a Super 12 campaign under coach John Mitchell and scrummaging expert Richard Loe.
The home team will field an imposing second/back row comprising of Glen Remnant, Chresten Davis, Scott Couch, Jonno Gibbes and the next All Black No8 (!!!!) Deon Muir and should gain ample ball despite the presence of promising C-M lock Kristian Ormsby.
While C-M have halfback Danny Lee and fullback Loki Crichton to give them class in the backs, they may struggle to contain Waikato for 80 minutes. The hosts have midfield power thru Scott McLeod and Keith Lowen and speed to burn out wide thru Roger Randle and Bruce Reihana. Once Waikatoo gain dominance up front, the points will start to pile up in the second spell.
The weather today in Hamilton is perfect for running rugby; fine with a light breeze.
PLAY WAIKATO -15.5

GLTA

 

[Anders]

Today's results:

Waikato 63 Counties Manukau 21

Thames Valley 16 King Country 14

Weekend overall: 2-1 (66.67%)

Go the mighty Mooloo Men

 

[Cartman88]

Anders,

Solid start to the NPC season there.

 

[Cartman88]

How about this for an interesting stat:

Number of posts in NPC thread this week:
55

Number of posts in NRL AFL Rugby & Soccer threads combined this week:
44

[This message has been edited by Cartman88 (edited 08-12-2001).]

 

[Anders]

It's that Horowhenua connection

The mighty 'nua kick-start their Div 3 campaign this week; will post odds ASAP.

Think the lower echelons could be a little goldmine for the doggies