Injury concerns
The whisper is that Bernie Upton could struggle to pull on a Bay jersey again, with his shoulder injury sidelining him for at least the next couple of weeks.  Upton leaves at the end of the season to go back to Wellington and it would be a sad way to end his excellent Bay career.  Mike Delany's quadricep injury, picked up at training on Thursday, could also keep him out until the end of the repechage round.

Murray's mojo back?
It was a big night for Murray Williams.  The first-five played his blazer game for the Steamers (15th) and celebrated with a return to first-five.  Williams finished with 23 points - the best individual display since Glen Jackson's epic 23-point haul in the Ranfurly Shield challenge two years ago.  Williams also scored his second try for the Bay - his first coming against the Lions last year - and equaled the record for the most penalties against Counties (4) by a Bay player.  He also moved to 88 points for the union.

Milestones
Aaron Rameka and Hayden Reid both scored their first tries for Bay of Plenty, while Tajhon Mailata made a very promising debut at centre. Reid is set to play his blazer game this week against Hawke's Bay.  Saturday's win leveled the national provincial record between Bay and Counties at eight wins apiece. And it was also Bay's highest score in a competition game, beating the 34 points in 1988 and 2001, although well short of the 54 points they notched in a pre-season game two years ago.

Revenge of the greens
Counties had the last laugh at the aftermatch function on Saturday night.  Skipper Ben Meyer made one of the more unusual post-match gifts to his Steamers counterpart Ben Castle, presenting him with a selection of Pukekohe produce, including a cabbage, some onions and potatoes. The eloquent Castle, one of the better speakers around, lifted the class of proceedings slightly by giving Meyer a bottle of win... though maybe a mudpack and some sulphur would have been more appropriate.

Stats provided by BOPRU historian Brent Drabble. 

Story with thanks to the Bay of Plenty Times