Steamers 2018
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The Katikati community will be treated to a festival of rugby this Friday when the Bay of Plenty Steamers take to the field for their final pre-season game proudly sponsored by Seeka against Auckland at Moore Park in Katikati.
Following three consecutive pre-season wins over Manawatu and Wanganui in the Game of Three Halves in Taihape prior to last weekend’s victory against North Harbour in Ngaruawahia, the Steamers team will again field a strong starting fifteen.
Head Coach Clayton McMillan has been forced to make two last minute changes due to sickness and injury in the locks with late call ups Aaron Carrol and Lars Morrice respectively securing a starting position and spot on the bench. Other notable starters is Te Puna’s Jeff Thwaites returning to the fold and Kaleb Trask moving into the starting first five eight position.
An experienced bench will see the return of fullback Chase Tiatia following his super rugby duties, the introduction of prop Ross Geldenhyus, hooker Valentine Meachen and All Blacks Sevens representative Trael Joass on the wing.
Bay of Plenty Steamers:
- James Lay
- Liam Polwart
- Jeff Thwaites
- Aaron Carrol
- Tyler Ardron
- Hugh Blake
- Mitch Karpik
- Hoani Matenga
- Luke Campbell
- Kaleb Trask
- Matt Garland
- Terrence Hepetema
- Liam Steel
- Fa’asiu Fuatai
- Bailey Simonsson
Reserves:
16. Valentine Meachen
17. Solomona Sakalia
18. Ross Geldenhyus
19. Lars Morrice
20. Ajay Mua
21. Richard Judd
22. Trael Joass
23. Chase Tiatia
24. Tevita MafileoThe Katikati Township will proudly welcome the presence of the Bay of Plenty Steamers, with selected players’ joining Seeka to deliver kiwi fruit to local schools including Katikati Primary School and Omokoroa Point in the morning.
The afternoon of rugby at Katikati Rugby Club, Moore Park will kick off with Katikati College 1st XV taking on Opotiki College 1st XV in the Toi Ohomai Baywide Secondary Schools Division Two semi-final at 12.30pm. This will be followed by a Bay of Plenty Invitational Sevens side taking on Japanese Select Women’s Sevens team at 2.10pm. The Steamers will kick off their final pre-season against Auckland at 2.45pm.
A selection of local food trucks and a cluster of sponsors’ tents will line the fields in what is expected to be an exciting afternoon for the local community.
Seeka Pre-Season Bay of Plenty Steamers v Auckland:
Fixture: Katikati College 1st XV v Opotiki College 1st XV
Time: Kick off 12.30pm
Venue: Moore Park, Katikati
Cost: Free EntryFixture: Bay of Plenty Invitational Sevens v Japanese Invitational Sevens
Time: Kick off 2.10pm
Venue: Moore Park, Katikati
Cost: Free EntryFixture: Bay of Plenty Steamers v Auckland
Time: Kick off 2.45pm
Venue: Moore Park, Katikati
Cost: Free Entry -
This is an illuminating article about what the coach thinks. It seems he rates our backs but has concerns about our forwards. Looks like Ross ,Siataga and McHugh are pretty much out for the season with several others presently carrying injuries also...not a good start on the injury front.
SunLive - McMillan upbeat as Steamers’ season approaches - The Bay's News First
McMillan upbeat as Steamers’ season approaches
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BOP 14 Auckland 16
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Some thoughts.
Two tries each with Auckland getting two penalties. One Auckland try resulted from Tiatia waiting for a ball from kick off, which was bouncing, to go out of play but it was scooped up by an Aucklander who scored.
A good game for BOP to get before the season proper.
This Auckland side is a pretty decent side boasting Akira Ioane (who is unstoppable with ball in hand), Blake Gibson and Dalton Popalii in the loose forwards as examples.
There were a lot of replacements (Auckland had 12 and BOP had 8).
Many in the BOP team played in different positions at different times during the game.
Le'aupepe, Wardlaw, Latimer, Delany, Robertson and Foketi never played.
I'm not worried at all by the result as BOP should take a lot of learning from the game. Theres plenty to work on...lineouts, tackling and kicking come to mind.
Bring on the real games. I can't wait.
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What were your thoughts on Auckland..?,and how was their set piece scrum..?
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@steven-harris You have to remember that these are preseason games and the coaches aren't giving to much away so I try not to read to much into them I remember one year BOP beat Hawkes Bay in a preseason by 35-0. BOP went on to have a pretty average year.
Yesterdays game didn't really show to much either with the constant changing of players on both sides (I think both teams changed 5 players at one time) and I know several players also from the Bay were swapping positions on the field.
I have been to all the BOP's preseason games and this was the most closely contested which is probably what both teams wanted and showed that one team is not streets ahead of the other. You could argue that Auckland should expect to beat us comfortably (given they are a premiership team) but this wasn't the case which is encouraging for us maybe and less so for you maybe.
In general however (in my view) you could possibly say that we had the better of you in the scrums and you possibly dominated us in the lineouts which admittedly were pretty scrappy at the best of times. Ioane was a beast and some of your outside backs looked classy.
Sorry for being vague but we will all know more after the first round of games when coaches show all their cards and play their top teams
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@snollygoster Thanks for the update,really I was only curious about the Auckland scrum because the Auckland coaching staff had signed a prop from Northland,which is totally unheard of..which also suggests to me,the cupboard in terms of tighthead props is a little thin,
Auckland are my 2nd team,the Taniwha will always be my team,but was more to get a gauge of what Northland might expect in Round 2...but like you said,not always easy when players are running on and off in a pre hit out,but I think you can get a feel in the opening 40 of where a teams strengths are. -
Te Rangi Fraser wasn't in last years team and wasn't selected in this years. Foketi is selected this year but hasn't fronted yet. Someone here will know the reason.
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From the Steamers instagram:
STEAMERS INJURY UPDATE | Wish we didn’t have to post this but wanted to keep you all up to date with our #SteamTeam! Mike Delany suffered a pectoral tear during the North Harbour vs. Bay of Plenty Steamers match on Sunday 16 September. It has now been confirmed he will require surgery and will not return for the remainder of the season. Jason Robertson suffered a fractured fibular during the Bay of Plenty Steamers vs. Manawatu match on Thursday 27 September. Recovery time for this is up to six weeks. He will not return to play for the remainder of the season. Solomona Sakalia suffered a partial tear of his achilles tendon during the Bay of Plenty Steamers vs. Manawatu match on Thursday 27 September. It is unconfirmed how long his recovery will be at this stage. Mathew Garland suffered a hamstring strain during the Bay of Plenty Steamers vs. Manawatu match on Thursday 27 September. A reoccurring neck injury has sidelined Liam Polwart. He sustained the original injury during the Investec Super Rugby Season playing for the Chiefs. Lalakai Foketi has been ruled out for the season following a stress fracture in his lower leg now requiring surgery. The injury was sustained during the Investec Super Rugby season. Aidan Ross (ankle) and Seb Siataga (wrist) sustained season ending injuries during their Investec Super Rugby Season. While Tom McHugh was ruled out after sustaining a broken leg during Bay of Plenty's pre-season match against North Harbour. Wishing all the lads a speedy recovery! -
Oh what could have been. If we played with the acuracy we showed today, we'd be in the semis. Though another game where we leaked points in the last 20. Fitness needs to be looked at next year. Narawa looked great on the wing. Plenty of positives from the pack. We needed a better centre (shame Foketi was injured all season) this year. A new backs coach too. We were too predictable. Shame we didn't have Monty Ioane this year. He was electric. I'm still dumbfounded how he missed out on a super contract.
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D Duluth moved this topic from BOP Mafia on
