Metro Playoff format explained
The next competition to head into finals as we near the pointy end of the season is the Canstaff Metro Premier competition, which enters preliminary finals this weekend.
It’s been an exhilarating year of club footy so far in Metro, with just four points separating the top four. Sydenham were the prevailing team, finishing top of the table with 46 points and picking up the Canstaff Cup as Minor Premiers.
They are joined at the top by surprise package New Brighton (43 points), last year’s champions Marist Albion (43) and perennial heavyweights Lincoln University (42). New Brighton and Marist Albion were separated only by the tiebreaker of who won their regular season match, with New Brighton winning at the death 30-29, meaning this weekend’s match promises to deliver.
Those four teams will face off in the Qualifying Finals, with the reward for finishing in the top four an extra life if they lose. However, the 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 High School Old Boys’ (39), Linwood (38), Shirley (27) and Chirstchurch (25). Pipped at the post, HSOB will be keen to ensure their season continues, taking on Christchurch at Bob Deans. Linwood and Shirley will be a repeat of their round 11 match up, with Linwood securing the win and the DCL Shield with an 80th minute penalty.
For the two losers, Saturday will signal the end of their finals chances, while the winners live to fight another week against the losers of those Qualifying Finals.
From there, the winners of the Elimination 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 Canstaff Premier Trophy on the 24th of July at Rugby Park.
At the other end of the table, the Bottom 4 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 University (22), Sumner (13), Belfast (5) and Burnside (2). University and Burnside will also repeat their round 11 clash, with Sumner hosting Belfast at St Leonards Square. 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 16th of July.
