Central BOP retain Stan Meads Shield
Sole game in Peace Cup round three a closely fought affair
Central Bay of Plenty went two from two in Stan Meads Shield defences within the 2022 Peace Cup competition, when they repulsed a determined challenge from Te Awamutu at Reporoa on Saturday.
A late change in venue had the sole game of the Peace Cup round three shifted from the Sulphur City to the rural surroundings of Reporoa — the home of All Blacks captain Sam Cane.
Te Awamutu laid down their spirited challenge early in the match and took a paper-thin 8-7 advantage into the halftime break.
The home side, coached by former Chiefs and Bay of Plenty Steamers prop Joe Savage, upped the ante in the second spell with plenty of determined challenges on the Te Awamutu defences.
The final whistle gave Central Bay of Plenty a hard-fought 24-15 victory.
Te Awamutu’s 9-10 combo of Ryan McNeil (O¯ torohanga) and Logan Karl (Te Awamutu Sports) was outstanding.
McNeil challenged the defence all day while Karl had a great kicking performance for much of the game, both off the boot and tee.
Openside flanker Kayden Moorfield (Pirongia) was everywhere on the park, as was O¯ torohanga prop Jonas Pomare. Try-scorers for Te Awamutu were fullback Te Kapa Crown (O¯ torohanga) and front-rower Brad van der Heyden (Te Awamutu Sports), while Karl added a conversion and an impressive penalty.
Te Awamutu’s player of the match accolades went to second five-eighth Josh Bennett who ran at the defence whenever possible.
Central Bay of Plenty’s win sets up a clash of the two unbeaten sides in the last round-robin stanza.
Saturday will match up defending titleholders Hamilton with Central Bay of Plenty in the Hamilton region, with two big incentives on the line.
The Stan Meads Shield challenge prize will be up for grabs for the last time in this season’s Peace Cup competition, with the winners’ name engraved as the 2022 Stan Meads Shield titleholder.
Also up for grabs will be Peace Cup home final advantage.
Hamilton and Central Bay of Plenty have already secured enough points to meet in the title decider, after three rounds of the Peace Cup preliminary competition.
Te Awamutu and North King Country will meet at the Waitomo Domain with the victor avoiding the competition wooden spoon.