They may have lost the battle, but the Chatham Islands rugby team won the hearts – and most definitely the stomachs – of their Bay of Plenty hosts recently.
The team from the Chathams – a plucky collection of fishermen, farmers and conservation workers – embarked on a five-day tour with the highlight a match against a Bay of Plenty Classic XV as the curtain-raiser to the Steamers-Otago game in Mount Maunganui.

Photos of the BOP Classic XV v Chatham Islands

The Classic outfit included former All Black Gary Braid, former Welsh flanker Brett Sinkinson and former Japan first-five Andy Miller, along with nearly 1200 provincial caps and the timeless skills of the home side were evident in their 53-14 win.
But the islanders scored the last two tries of the game - Justin Wolff and Michael Neilsen both crossed – and had the final say when they rendered their hosts speechless with an aftermatch feast of fresh Chatham crayfish.
“Our guys will remember this for a very long time and to play on such a stage, it's a big experience,” Chathams coach Phil Seymour said, as a 13,000-strong crowd continued to drift into Baypark Stadium for the main event.
“They just had a bit too much skill and finesse than us, and those guys have played some serious rugby in their day. You never lose that. We failed to play a bit of rugby and flick it around and express ourselves like we'd planned but I'm still proud of the way the boys stuck together against a pretty good team.”
Rugby on the Chathams is an irregular occurrence – the only other match this year was the annual Town v Kaingaroa match, and offshore tours occur every couple of years or so.
But the islands, which lie around 800 km east of Christchurch, have produced some fine players over the years, including 1922 All Black Robert Mathieson, Waikato hooker Vern Kamo and Kiwis rugby league forward Brendan Tuuta.
“There are a lot of Chatham Island lads that make first XVs around the country when they leave to go to school,” Seymour said “There’s some real talent here.”
Former Bay of Plenty lock Steve Axtens agreed heartily, blood trickling from a head wound after the Classics match and big smile on his face.
“They were pretty physical - they got right into us. That was their test match I guess and it was a shock to the system and the body is certainly feeling it!”
It was a great reunion for the Bay players, with three centurions featuring in the Classic lineup; two-test All Black Braid and Clayton McMillan. The backline contained three former Bay first-fives – Preston, Andy Miller and Dean Jennings – who have 1748 points for the province.
Former Waikato and Bay of Plenty lock Ron Rae was the senior figure in the side at 53, while 47-year-old Preston, who began his Bay career in 1980, still turns out occasionally for Kahukura in club play.
The Chathams players ranged from 18 up to their mid-40s, with Seymour bringing 19 players from the island – along with a large supporter crew – and picking up several club players with links to the islands on the mainland.
“Some of the guys have played a bit of rugby in the past and some have played very little.
The boys took it pretty seriously and we’ve been training for the past two or three months.  I guess you could say we were to be unleashed!”

Result:
BOP Classic XV 53 (Charles Hubbard 2, Peter Woods 2, Dave Gorrie 2, Blair Cashmore, Robert Moon, Murray McGregor tries; Ron Preston 3, Andy Miller cons) Chatham Islands 14 (Justin Wolff, Michael Neilsen tries; Mark Kelleher 2cons).  HT: 19-0.

Squads:
BOP CLASSIC XV:
Dean Jennings, Peter Woods, Blair Cashmore, Andy Miller, Troy Jennings, Ron Preston, Charles Hubbard, Clayton McMillan, Brett Sinkinson, Dean Oswald, Gary Braid, Steve Axtens, Steve Simpkins, Ron Rae, Piki Thomas.
Reserves: Brad Tutua, Dan Godbold, Wilson Mellow, Martin Jones, Jeremy Cotter, Rob Moon, Cliff Honey, Murray McGregor, Dave Gorrie, Crete Wana.

CHATHAM ISLANDS:
Sakaraia Nasau, Ryan Holmes, Russell Phillips, Nick Cameron, Jeffrey Mackay, Carl Brouwer, Michael Fraser, Floyd Prendeville (capt), Robin Seymour, Michael Neilsen, Leith Pomare, John Thomson, Neihana Seymour, Patrick Tuanui, Greg Horler.
Reserves: Quintin Horler, Andre Day, Jason Seymour, Evan Seymour, Jason Ryan, Matthew Pirika, Jared Hazel, Clive Pomare, Mark Kelleher, Jason Kelleher, Justin Horler, Justin Wolff.