The Bay of Plenty representative rugby build-up continued on Tuesday (10 June 2008) against the (Hawkes Bay) Saracens at the Rotorua International Stadium.

Wearing the colours of the Wasps, a Bay of Plenty selection were defeated by the Hawkes Bay visitors 61-45, in a high scoring encounter. The match was the second in the series that will result in the announcement of the Bay of Plenty Steamers

A strong Hawkes Bay unit started with a hiss and a roar - with the Bay representatives 21 nil down after 13 minutes. The visitor’s forwards continued to make the early running with the scoreboard showing 35-7 at the quarter way mark.

The fight back came with the Wasps forwards starting to win quality ball, which resulted in the ball moving along the home teams backline. Cory Aporo, who was in sparkling form, scored two first half tries, with Matt Hodson also grabbing two touchdowns.

Down nineteen points at the break the Wasps continued their assault on the opposition line in the second spell – winning the second half. Cory Aporo picked up his third try in the second spell, with Toby Arnold and Sio Atelemo also dotting down.

Wasps Manager Sean Horan said, “the game was a good hit out with the selectors able to see where the players performance levels were at”. “The encounter also was a good gauge for the players to measure the standard required for the Air NZ Cup”.

The result against the Saracens follows last week’s first game where the Wasps defeated the (Waikato) Harlequins 36-20.

The third match in the representative build-up will take place at Opotiki next Wednesday (18 June 2008) with the Bay fifteen taking on Poverty Bay.

Results