Bascik Transport Metro Premier heats up as sights turn to Playoff Rugby

All Metro eyes turn to finals this week, as the Bascik Transport Metro Premier competition enters the first round of playoffs this weekend.

It’s been one of the tightest competitions in recent memory, with positions 1 through to 10 up for grabs in last week’s final round, with teams fighting to make the top eight and keep themselves in with a chance to lift the Bascik Transport Trophy come the end of July.

Ultimately, University (47 points) secured top spot on the final day, beating Belfast on their way to picking up the Bascik Transport Cup as Minor Premiers, a trophy that they have not held in recent memory.

They are joined at in the top four by Marist Albion (42), Lincoln University (40) and High School Old Boys’ (39), the latter of whom jumped into fourth spot after a final round win over Christchurch.

Those four teams will face off in the Qualifying Finals, with University hosting HSOB and Lincoln University travelling to Marist Albion, with the reward for finishing in the top four an extra life if they lose.

However, that reward of another life comes with it the danger of facing the sides in the Middle 4 section, who will be keen to prove their final credentials both this weekend and next.  

Those sides competing in the Elimination Finals will be Linwood (35), New Brighton (35), Sumner (34) and Shirley (28).

It sets up two intriguing elimination finals, with Linwood hosting Shirley a repeat of the one point thriller that saw Linwood progress in 2022, while the seaside rivalry between New Brighton and Sumner is reignited with survival on the line.

For the two losers, Saturday will signal the end of their Trophy finals chances and see them drop into the Plate competition, while the winners live to fight another week against the losers of this weekends top four’s Qualifying Finals for a chance to play in the semi finals.

From there, the winners of the top four’s Qualifying Finals will receive a week off, while the losers play off in the semi-finals. The winners of that game will then take on the original Qualifying Finals winners in the Preliminary Finals, with the two winners earning a spot in the final to contest the Bascik Transport Trophy on the 30th of July at Rugby Park.  

At the other end of the table, the bottom four sides do battle in an attempt to secure final bragging rights for the season, with the Plate on the line for the winner of the bottom half of the table and the dreaded wooden spoon the prize for the 12th placed team.  

Taking part in the 9th to 12th section are Sydenham (26), Burnside (24), Christchurch (8) and Belfast (6). Sydenham host Belfast at Sydenham Park, while Christchurch travel west to Burnside.

The losers will play off against each other to determine the final 11th vs 12th seeding and the winners will look to end their season on a high with a Plate semi-final against the losers of the Elimination Finals, before the Plate final on the 22nd of July.