For the first time this season the Bay of Plenty Steamers will march onto Baypark on Friday (18 July 2008) night. The game against North Harbour is the second in the pre-season buildup to the Air NZ Cup that kicks off on the 31 July 2008.

The two teams that will meet on Friday night share an unusual connection - in that both Unions won the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in the last decade.

A good start, to the three match warm-up campaign was made in Palmerston North last Friday night, against Manawatu. A feature of the 31-24 victory was the start and finish of the Steamers.

Steamers Manager Sean Horan said, “ The set piece work by the Steamers was of a high standard”. “ The forwards dominated the scrums and lineouts especially in the opening twenty minutes and the last quarter”. 

Head Coach Kevin Schuler has spent a lot of time going through the routines of set pieces. A recent visit from former All Black and Chiefs lock Keith Robinson focused on line out performances.

Two significant changes from the team that faced Manawatu are the selection of the Bay’s NZ Maori representatives. Zar Lawrence will make his Bay of Plenty debut at fullback, while Tanerau Latimer will come off the bench. Another notable selection is Josh Hall, who in his first season out of the Tauranga Boys College first fifteen, is the replacement half back.

The Friday night game will welcome in the first event of the partnership between the Bay Steamers and Blue Light Bay of Plenty. The relationship between the Steamers and Police Blue Light is the result of the Steamers adopting an Official Charity for 2008, and beyond.

Blue Light is a police youth program, designed to reduce the incidence of young people becoming an offender or victim of crime - encourage better relation between the Police, young people and their parents and the community - and contribute to the Police goals of crime and crash reduction

The theme for the night is a father and son outing - in keeping with the Blue Light objective of establishing closer relationships between the Police and Families.

BOP Steamers v North Harbour @ Baypark – kickoff 6pm.

BOP Steamers v North Harbour
Forwards: Joe Savage, John Paerenga, Arden David, Culum Rettalick, Aiden Kuka, Solomon King, Luke Braid, Colin Bourke (v/captain)
Backs: Jamie Nutbrown (captain), Mike Delany, Jason Hona, Nigel Hunt, Paula Asaeli, Lance McDonald, Zar Lawrence
Bench: Marcel Cummings-Toone, James McGougan, Josh Katene-Roberts, Tanerau Latimer, Josh Hall, Kelly Haimona Teu Nafe.
Unavailable because of injury: Matt Wallace, Cory Aporo, John Moore

BOP Steamers Management:
Head Coach - Kevin Schuler , Assistant Coach - Steve Miln, Manager – Sean Horan, Trainer – Murray Pederson, Physio – Paul Cameron, Doctor – Morne Du Plessis, Video Analysis – Chris Lapage.