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

Sideline Sid has a message for his readers who don't like rugby – come back to read this blog after the Rugby World Cup finishes.

What a time to be a rugby fan in the (Western) Bay of Plenty. We have the last two weeks of post section play in the Baywide competitions before the Baywide champions of 2011 are crowned.

The Bay of Plenty Steamers are in full flight in the centennial year of the Bay of Plenty Union, and we have one of the biggest events on the world sporting stage kicking off when the All Blacks meet Tonga in the opening game of the seventh Rugby World Cup.

Last night, Tuesday July 26, nearly 3000 Steamers fans braved one of the coldest nights of the year to support ‘Our Team' as they took on near neighbours and Chiefs partner Waikato at the Rotorua International Stadium in the Sulphur City.

While there is fierce intercity rivalry between the two big population bases in the Bay – all that disappears when the Steamers are on-song.

Last night's game saw the Steamers at their best as the lone cowbell at the Rotorua Stadium was silenced early in the piece and the home side served it up to the Mooloo men from the kick-off.

Early in the game the Steamers welcomed their opposition to Roto Vega with a bit of argy bargy of the knuckle kind. However, the blue and gold men then totally dominated the match-up against their long time rivals to post a comprehensive 36-8 victory.

The rivalry stretches back to the first game between the two unions in 1921 with the sides now having met on 74 occasions. While in the last couple of decades the Steamers have been highly competitive, it has not always been the case.

Especially in the 1950s and ‘60s the Mooloo Men were one of the powerhouses in New Zealand provincial rugby.

Their most dramatic victory was to provide the 1956 Springboks with a blood nose in their first game of the ‘56 tour.

For the record, we have now played Waikato on 74 occasions winning 25, losing 46, with four encounters drawn.

One of the great delights of sports is the glorious uncertainty. If only we could have had a crystal ball a few weeks ago, we could have relieved the TAB bookmakers of a large amount of spondulicks. Who could have imagined just two and a bit weeks into the season that the Steamers would lead the ITM Cup premiership, Manawatu would be top of the ITM Cup championship and Southland would reclaim the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury.

Will it is all joy and jubilation after three games, there is still a long way to go in the short and sharp 2011 NPC. This Sunday the Steamers face their biggest test so far when Wellington pays a visit to Baypark.

The other big mountains to climb will be the away match with Auckland and the home encounter with Canterbury.

While no-one is taking silverware (just yet), the best way for the local rugby fans to ensure that the Steamers continue to fire is for the multitude of Steamers faithful to turn up on Sunday to give plenty of vocal support to ‘Our Team' against the enemy from the capital city.

Seeya (on Sunday) at the Steamers Game.