Hawke Cup defence 27th - 29th January

Posted: Friday, 26 January 2018

Bay Of Plenty To Play Their 33rd Hawke Cup Direct Challenge Against Counties Manukau

The Bay of Plenty Hawke Cup Direct Challenge, against Counties Manukau at the Te Puke Domain this weekend (27-29 January 2018), is the Bay of Plenty provinces 33rd Direct Challenge appearance since 1932.

Bay of Plenty, have experienced a roller-coaster ride since facing South Auckland on the 26-28 February 1932. However since relieving Hamilton of the Hawke Cup in January 2013, the Bay of Plenty representatives have been the dominant force in Hawke Cup cricket, in the intervening five years.

They have contested ten of the 20 Hawke Cup Direct Challenges since beating Hamilton, winning the NZ Cricket prize on two occasions and mounting eight successful defences. The defending champions current stretch of victories began, when they defeated Hawkes Bay in March 2016, followed by four successful defences last year.

Bay of Plenty Coach Charles Williams said “Although there have been a number of challenges leading up to the Hawke Cup game, including playing away from our regular home ground of the Bay Oval, the side is very excited to be playing at one of the Bays oldest and picturesque grounds at the Te Puke Domain. We know how much effort the club has put in over the last few weeks and the facilities have been upgraded for the Hawke Cup match there this weekend”.

The Bay team selected to play Counties Manukau has Hawke Cup Direct Challenge experience in spades. Captain Peter Drysdale, will set a Bay of Plenty Hawke Cup Direct Challenge appearance record of 13 matches, after previously sharing the record with Derek Beard. Drysdale has captained the Bay team to nine victories, with the other successful skippers being the late ADG Roberts (4) Derek Beard (1) Robbie Hart (1) and Jono Boult (1).

“Our team is stacked with experience, with the likes of Bharat Popli rejoining the side after ND duties. Add to that Joe Carter, Jono Boult, new ND player Sean Davey and obviously our most capped player in the side and captain Pete Drysdale, we are very confident that we have the side to defend the Hawke Cup” said Coach Williams “With the experience we also balance this with youth. Tim Pringle is fresh off ND U17s and Super 8 cricket and is very excited to play his first Hawke Cup match as a new Tauranga Boys College Year 11 student. His Left arm Orthos will also be a point of difference in our spinning ranks”.

“Tommy Clout seems like he has been around the Bay scene for a long time, but he is still young and after a lengthy injury spell, plays his first Hawke Cup match since we
regained the Cup against Hawkes Bay two seasons ago. He and Sean Davey will lead our medium pace attack”. “Weather looks great and everything is in place for what looks to be a very intriguing three days of Hawke Cup cricket”

Hawke Cup Direct Challenge @ Te Puke Domain 27-29 January 2018
Bay of Plenty Team v Counties Manukau (Hawke Cup games in brackets)
RPO Drysdale – captain (12) JJ Boult – vice-captain (6) TJ Clarke (10) TJ Pringle (0) SB Davey (9) JF Carter (8) TJ Clout (6) CM Atkinson (4) BS Musgrave (7) AJ Blackett (0) TJ MacRury (10) B Popli (5)
Coach: Charles Williams Assistant Coach: Russell Williams
Bay of Plenty Hawke Cup Direct Challenge Records (1932 – 2017)
Played 32 Won 16 Lost 15 Abandoned 1

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