Round 8 Fixtures: All Saturday 13 June 12:30pm Cashmere Technical Res. vs. Halswell - English Park Christchurch United U20 vs, Ferrymead Bays U20 - United Sport Centre Waimak vs. Universities of Canterbury - Kendall Park
2:30pm Burwood vs. Nomads Res. - Clare Park Western vs. Selwyn Res. - Walter Park
Round 11 Fixtures: All Saturday 4 July 12:30pm Nomads Res. vs. Western - Tulett Park Selwyn Res. vs. Burwood - Foster Park Universities of Canterbury vs. Ferrymead Bays U20 - English Park
2:45pm Cashmere Technical Res. vs. Christchurch United U20 - Garrick Memorial Park Waimak vs Halswell - Kendall Park
12:30pm Ferrymead Bays U20's vs. Western - Ferrymead Park 2:30pm Burwood vs. Christchurch United U20's - Clare Park 2:45pm Nomads Res. vs. Halswell - Tulett Park - top of the table clash Universities of Canterbury vs. Selwyn Res. - English Park Waimak vs. Cashmere Technical Res. - Kendall Park
Gotta suck for Halswell, but on the plus for them they've confirmed their promotion playoff spot. Next best first team is Waimakiriri United who are 16 points behind Halwell with only 5 games to go, so no matter what they're competing for the SL playoffs. That said I'm sure back to back 2nd place finishes after being top of the ladder would sting. Anyone at the game know what happened to make the 2nd half look so different?
Noah4thenix wrote: Gotta suck for Halswell, but on the plus for them they've confirmed their promotion playoff spot. Next best first team is Waimakiriri United who are 16 points behind Halwell with only 5 games to go, so no matter what they're competing for the SL playoffs. That said I'm sure back to back 2nd place finishes after being top of the ladder would sting. Anyone at the game know what happened to make the 2nd half look so different?
Don't Halswell have to finish in the top 2 of the league to qualify for playoffs? Or is it just top '1st team'?
Noah4thenix wrote: Gotta suck for Halswell, but on the plus for them they've confirmed their promotion playoff spot. Next best first team is Waimakiriri United who are 16 points behind Halwell with only 5 games to go, so no matter what they're competing for the SL playoffs. That said I'm sure back to back 2nd place finishes after being top of the ladder would sting. Anyone at the game know what happened to make the 2nd half look so different?
Don't Halswell have to finish in the top 2 of the league to qualify for playoffs? Or is it just top '1st team'?
Off a quick look at the Mainland football website and wikipedia I don't see anything about having to finish at a certain place to get promoted. Best I got was "In 2025, Halswell United came second in the league [but competed in the playoffs anyway], as winners Christchurch United U20 Reserves are ineligible to participate" So the implication seems to just be whoever is best next up gets the shot? Hard to say since 2025 was the first time something like this had happened in the CPL
Southernix wrote: Rules got changed I think for last season so teams had to finish top 2 to be eligible for promotion.
But I don't know how that might change for this season, particularly if they want to keep the league at 10 teams.
I suppose that if Halswell drop to third they could simply give automatic promotion to the Nelson prems and SPL winners and skip the playoffs?
Alternatively, if Halswell remain top 2 come season end they could have them play the Nelson team and make it so the winner gets promoted and the loser gets one more shot against the SPL winner. That keeps the current system of CPL vs Nelson, then winner of that playing SPL, just a little different
Southernix wrote: Rules got changed I think for last season so teams had to finish top 2 to be eligible for promotion.
But I don't know how that might change for this season, particularly if they want to keep the league at 10 teams.
I suppose that if Halswell drop to third they could simply give automatic promotion to the Nelson prems and SPL winners and skip the playoffs?
Alternatively, if Halswell remain top 2 come season end they could have them play the Nelson team and make it so the winner gets promoted and the loser gets one more shot against the SPL winner. That keeps the current system of CPL vs Nelson, then winner of that playing SPL, just a little different
Assuming it stays at 10 teams. It's possible one of the leagues just doesn't send anybody straight up (maybe SPL), otherwise probably SPL sends a team up automatically and CPL play off against Nelson Bays. That would make it one spot for Southern and one for Mainland. It's possible if Halswell drop to third they are just ruled out of contention, but only if both other comps have a team that can (and want to) get promoted.
Here are Promotion / Relegation sections from the 2026 Regulation's for the Mainland Canterbury Premier League
25 PROMOTION/RELEGATION Pre-text * At the date these Regulations are issued, MF has not confirmed the competition (if any) into which the mCPL may be promoted for the 2027 season. Accordingly, this Section 25 has been drafted on the basis (and only on the basis) that a “next highest league” will exist in 2027, anticipated to be the Men’s Southern League. The number of promotion places (if any) has not been confirmed. If, for the 2027 season, a next highest league exists (including, without limitation, the Men’s Southern League), promotion from the mCPL may occur only in accordance with this Section 25. If, for the 2027 season, no next highest league is established, then: (a) the promotion and relegation provisions in this Section 25 shall have no application; and (b) the structure, formation and allocation of teams to competitions for the 2027 season (and any subsequent seasons) shall be determined by MF in its sole discretion, and MF’s determination shall be final and binding.
25.1 Section 25 is to be read subject to, and in conjunction with, the pre-text above. If any inconsistency arises between the pre-text and any provision of this Section 25, the pre-text shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency. If any matter relating to promotion and/or relegation is not expressly provided for in this Section 25, MF may determine that matter in its sole discretion, and MF’s determination shall be final and binding.
Promotion 25.2 Subject to, and without limitation to, the Southern League regulations, each Designated Southern League Reserve Team is ineligible for promotion from the mCPL (including, for the avoidance of doubt, ineligible to participate in any play-off series conducted for the purpose of determining promotion).
25.3 Following the conclusion of the Season, the club placed first in the final mCPL league table (as determined in accordance with Section 24) shall be nominated for promotion to the SL, provided that: (a) the club is eligible for promotion; (b) the club satisfies all applicable promotion criteria and other applicable requirements; and (c) where MF requires a play-off series to be conducted under clause 25.6, the club has nominated itself (in writing to the MF Competitions Manager) by 1 May in the Season concerned to be considered for participation in that play-off series.
25.4 If the club placed first in the final mCPL league table is ineligible to be nominated for promotion or declines to be nominated for promotion, the club placed second in the final mCPL league table shall be nominated for promotion, subject always to eligibility and satisfaction of all applicable requirements. If both the club placed first and the club placed second are ineligible to be nominated for promotion or decline to be nominated for promotion, no club shall be nominated from the mCPL for promotion.
25.5 Without limiting clauses 25.3 and 25.4, Mainland Football may determine the final nomination and/or the nomination process, provided that any nominated club is able to satisfy all applicable requirements (including, without limitation, any club licensing requirements).
25.6 Where a team from the Southern Premier League and or the Nelson Premiership is also nominated for promotion to the Southern League, Mainland Football may require that a play off series be conducted to determine which nominated team is promoted, subject always to the number of promotion places available. Any such play-off series may be regulated under its own set of regulations (including provisions outlining participating teams and how a winner will be determined).
Relegation 25.7 At the end of each Season, promotion (if any) shall be determined first. Following the determination of promotion, relegation shall occur to the extent necessary to maintain the required number of Participants in the mCPL for the following season. For the avoidance of doubt, more than one team may be relegated in a Season.
25.8 Relegation from the mCPL shall be determined by the final league table for the Season, calculated and finalised in accordance with Section 24 (including, without limitation, the ranking and tie-break provisions in clauses 24.6 and 24.7). Subject to clause 25.7, the team (or teams) to be relegated shall be the team (or teams) finishing in the lowest position(s) on that final league table, to the extent relegation is required.
25.9 If the winner of the mCCL does not satisfy the requirements for entry to the mCPL under clauses 9.2 and 9.3, no promotion shall occur from the mCCL to the mCPL.
Southernix wrote: Rules got changed I think for last season so teams had to finish top 2 to be eligible for promotion.
But I don't know how that might change for this season, particularly if they want to keep the league at 10 teams.
I suppose that if Halswell drop to third they could simply give automatic promotion to the Nelson prems and SPL winners and skip the playoffs?
Alternatively, if Halswell remain top 2 come season end they could have them play the Nelson team and make it so the winner gets promoted and the loser gets one more shot against the SPL winner. That keeps the current system of CPL vs Nelson, then winner of that playing SPL, just a little different
Certainly a funny old rule that you can finish 2nd and still gain promotion.. Previous years have seen Waimak and Halswell play Nelson FC then side from SPL so be the case again this year I suspect. Realistically both United and Ferrymead could pip Halswell. 6 pointer for Halswell this weekend against Ferrymead. Halswell are still to play Ferrymead, Tech and United with United still to play Halswell, Ferrymead and Nomads. Ferrymead to play Halswell, Tech and United so a few things that could happen. Both United and Ferrymead can beat anyone on their day but probably have been too inconsistent dropping points to lower sides. Halswell have been more consistent being a first team so are in the box seat but will be an interesting last 5 games.
FC Nelson currently led the Nelson Bays Premiership and cannot be overtaken, I understand they will be seeking promotion.
Northern Hearts - from Timaru are topping the Southern Premier League, by 4 points from Invercargill's Queens Park. Hearts on 25 points, from 10 games with Queens Park on 21, played 11 and Mosgiel third on 20, from 11 games. There are 18 rounds in the SPL, so too early to pick the finishing order.
Round 14 Fixtures: Friday 31 July 7:30pm Selwyn Res.vs. Nomads Res. - Foster Park Saturday 1 August 12:30pm Christchurch United U20 vs. Waimak - United Sport Centre 2:30pm Western vs. Burwood - Walter Park 2:45pm Halswell vs. Ferrymead Bays U20 - Halswell Domain Sunday 2 August 12:30pm Cashmere Technical Res. vs. Universities of Canterbury - Garrick Memorial Park
