Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Sideline Sid was extremely impressed with the work and passion for rugby that the Katikati Rugby Club expended when they hosted the Steamers XV and Taranaki at Moore Park last Friday.

It rained cats and dogs in the first half, making the players unrecognisable, which resulted in the black muddied side playing the other black muddied side.

The replacement players in the second half stood out like a beacon – until they hit the deck and became another black muddied player.

However, the Katikati Rugby Club, which is amongst the oldest in the country, did a superb job of bringing together one of the biggest crowds seen in Katikati for many a day. Over 2000 people packed the grandstand, watched from the numerous tents, or perched on make do grandstands on the many big trucks that lined the far side of the field.

For the record, Taranaki won the two try apiece encounter 22-12 by virtue of the additional four penalty goals that the visitors slotted.

The two sides will do it all again in New Plymouth this week in the last chance for several non-contracted players to push for a place in this seasons Steamers ITM Cup squad.

It is a huge season for Bay Rugby this year with a short sharp ITM Cup competition, the centenary of the Bay of Plenty Union and then the Rugby World Cup.

When the various centennial occasions take place, talk will certainly turn to some of the great matches of the past.

There are few that held more delight than the match-up against the visiting Australian internationals, at the Rotorua International Stadium on the 1st September 1982.

This was an Australian side that included the three magical Ella brothers of Glen, Gary and Mark, although just Glen took to the field in Rotorua.

Sideline Sid was present to witness a game that Bay of Plenty totally dominated from the time that referee Mr Asher from Auckland blew his opening whistle.

What made the match even more remarkable was that Bay of Plenty went into the encounter having lost all five NPC matches that season.

Bay great Ronnie Preston kicked a penalty goal in the opening minute, before Mark Basham playing on the wing grabbed a one handed touchdown to really set the crowd alight.

A 16-nil lead to the Bay at halftime was just a taste of what was to happen in the second half. Ronnie Preston opened the second half scoring when he burst away to score under the posts, which he duly converted.

The stadium erupted when Bay All Black Hika Reid crashed over twice in the second spell. The other Bay touchdowns were scored by fullback John Cameron and Gordon Tietjens with Ron Preston providing the icing on the cake with five conversions and two penalty goals.

As the delighted Bay of Plenty supporters stormed the field at the end of the match, the scoreboard showed Bay of Plenty 40 Australia 16.

Australian coach Bob Dwyer was stunned by the defeat, which was the highest score ever posted against a visiting Australian team.

Seeya at the (Steamers) Game