2014 ITM Cup
| 2014 ITM Cup season | |
|---|---|
| Countries |
 New Zealand
|
| Date | 14 August – 25 October 2014 |
| Champions | Taranaki |
| Runners-up | Tasman |
| Promoted | Manawatu |
| Relegated | Wellington |
| Matches played | 76 |
| Tries scored | 448 (average 5.895 per match) |
| Top point scorer |
Marty Banks (Tasman) 175 points |
| Top try scorer |
Ryan Tongia (Hawke's Bay) 10 tries |
| Official website | |
| www |
|
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← 2013
2015 →
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The 2014 ITM Cup season was the ninth year running since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the fourth under the new Premiership and Championship format. For the ITM Cup competition it involved the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, the competition was known as the ITM Cup and it was currently the fifth season under the new sponsor. Including the defunct National Provincial Championship, this is the 38th season of New Zealand's premier domestic competition. The regular season matches took place every Thursday to Sunday from 14 August until 24 August and then every Wednesday to Sunday from 27 August until 12 October – followed by the semi-finals that culminated in the final on 25 October.
The 2014 season saw Tasman enter the Premiership division for the first time, having replaced the relegated Bay of Plenty. Tasman achieved seven victories in their inaugural division, and finished runners-up following the regular season.
Covering 11 weeks, the schedule features a total of 76 matches. The 14 teams are grouped and divided into two divisions of seven teams, labeled the Premiership Division and the Championship Division. They are based on their on-field finishing positions following the previous year, teams finishing 1-7 will form the Premiership, teams finishing 8-14 will form the Championship. Including a promotion/relegation process between the winner of the Championship receiving automatic promotion to the Premiership replacing the seventh placed team in the Premiership which will be relegated to the Championship for the following year. The regular season consists of two types of matches:
The top four teams of each division, will move on to the finals. The top two division winners, based on table points, received a home semi-final. In the first round of the finals, the semi-finals, the second division winner hosts the third division winner, and the first division winner hosts the fourth division winner. The final is hosted by the top remaining seed.
There is also the Ranfurly Shield. It is automatically contested when the holder of the shield plays at home in any round (excluding semis and final).
Source: itmcup.co.nz
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