With the pre-season skirmishes completed, the Bay of Plenty Steamers start their Air New Zealand Cup campaign, this Thursday (31 July 2008) night. The Steamers face Tasman in Blenhiem.

The Steamers will enter the first game of the Cup with a quiet air of confidence, after building a three from three-win record in the pre-season match-ups. Victories over Manawatu and North Harbour were followed up with a narrow, but solid, win over traditional rivals Waikato last Thursday night.

The real significance of the win over their Waikato neighbors was the come from behind victory. Down by eighteen points half way through the first spell, the Steamers fought back to grab five tries in the second half, and post a 44-40 win.

Steamers Manager Sean Horan said, “ While the Steamers are looking to open their Air New Zealand Cup season with a win, conditions in Blenheim could be the leveller”. “The side that adapts best, to the predicted wet and cold conditions on Thursday night, is likely to grab the encounter”.

With a high percentage goal kicker necessary for success in the Air New Zealand Cup – the Steamers look to be well served in the goal-kicking department, with Mike Delany in good form in the pre-season hit-outs.

Vice-captain Colin Bourke has been in dynamic form from the back of the scrum, in the warm-up games. Another to impress is skipper Jamie Nutbrown who looks to be amongst the top echelon of halfbacks in the country.

The saying that “the closing of one door opens another” can be applied to the inclusion of Opotiki rake Dean Elmiger in the team. A shoulder injury to Marcel Cummings-Toone, which will sideline the Tauranga Sports hooker for around six weeks, has seen Elmiger join the team as the backup for John Paerenga.

Thursday 31 July 2008

BOP Steamers v Tasman @ Blenheim – 7.05pm kick-off
1  Joe Savage, 2  John Paerenga, 3  James McGougan, 4  John Moore, 5  Culum Rettalick, 6  Solomon King, 7  Luke Braid, 8  Colin Bourke (v/captain), 9  Jamie Nutbrown (captain), 10  Mike Delany, 11  Jason Hona, 12  Nigel Hunt, 13  Paula Asaeli, 14  Lance MacDonald, 15  Zar Lawrence.
Bench: 16  Dean Elmiger, 17  Arden David-Perrot, 18  Josh Katene, 19  Aiden Kuka, 20  Josh Hall, 21  Kelly Haimona, 22Toby Arnold.