Steamers Aim to Continue the Momentum

The new Mark Weedon Cup to be played for between Bay of Plenty and North Harbour

The Steamers will look to build off the back of their impressive 33-27 away win vs Otago last weekend as they travel Albany to play North Harbour.  

The Steamers ran in four tries in their come-from-behind victory to secure a much-needed bonus point and are now within a stone's throw off the Conference Top 3 despite being a game behind second and third-placed Hawke’s Bay and Wellington.  

"It was a real team effort the way we put things together, the coaching group was proud of the squad’s composure to be able to come from behind and secure an important away win,” says Head Coach Mike Delany.  

North Harbour will also be riding high after a dominating 37-12 performance over Counties Manukau who pipped the Steamers at home back in Round 5. 

Harbour also sits in fourth position in their respective conference, so Sunday's matchup will be a good test for the Steamers against competition in similar form. 

Silverware will be up for grabs this weekend with the inaugural Mark Weedon Cup being played for for the very first time.  

Mark Weedon was a Bay of Plenty legend who gave a lot to rugby and the Bay of Plenty community. Weedon began playing rugby with Katikati before he made his provincial debut for Bay of Plenty in 1986 as an 18-year-old schoolboy. Between 1993 and 1996, he played 46 games for North Harbour. He later returned to the Bay and captained the province in 2001 and 2002, earning 32 caps for the Province, before retiring from the game.

“He was a great Bay man, it’s pretty special to play for a trophy in his honour. I knew Mark personally and what a great guy he was, it’s our hope to head up north and bring the trophy home,” says Delany. 

The majority of the Weedon family will be present at the game on Saturday, with his sons Jack and Rory running out with team captains, while his partner Kylie and brother Phil will be involved in the post-match cup presentation. 

Notable mentions for the Steamers lineup include Bay veteran Jeff Thwaites who draws another start, while Wharenui Hawera gets a big opportunity to impress at fly-half as Kaleb Trask shifts out to fullback. The red hot Emoni Narawa will sit out the game due to injury. 

The Bay of Plenty Ngāwhā team (Steamers Development) also travel to QBE Stadium on Saturday to play North Harbour Development as the curtain raiser match kicking off from 2.05pm.  

The main game will be televised Live on Sky Sport and Bay of Plenty supporters heading to QBE Stadium can purchase tickets online by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Dd09KK.

 

Bay of Plenty Steamers Round 6 Team vs North Harbour  

  1. Aidan Ross 
  2. Kurt Eklund (C) 
  3. Jeff Thwaites 
  4. Justin Sangster 
  5. Manaaki Selby-Rickit 
  6. Naitoa Ah Kuoi 
  7. Jacob Norris 
  8. Nikora Broughton 
  9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 
  10. Wharenui Hawera 
  11. Nigel Ah Wong 
  12. Inga Finau 
  13. Joey Walton 
  14. Taylor Haugh 
  15. Kaleb Trask
     
  16. Anaru Rangi 
  17. Haereiti Hetet 
  18. Pasilio Tosi 
  19. Zane Kapeli 
  20. Penitoa Finau 
  21. Luke Donaldson 
  22. Lucas Cashmore 
  23. Lalomilo Lalomilo 

Unavailable due to injury
Melani Nanai    
Kitiona Vai  
Jamie Dobie 
Emoni Narawa
Gillies Kaka 

All Black 7's:    
Leroy Carter    
Roderick Solo     

All Blacks:    
Sam Cane   

Game Day Details
Bay of Plenty Steamers vs North Harbour, 4.35pm kick off
QBE Stadium, North Harbour
LIVE on Sky Sport 1 (channel 051)


Article added: Thursday 08 September 2022

 

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