Sideline Sid - Sports blogger Sideline Sid is a local sport fanatic. Not only is he a classic rugby bloke but he has views, opinions and knowledge on all sports played in the Bay of Plenty.

After being amongst a huge crowd at the Warriors encounter with Manly the previous weekend, Sideline Sid decided to enjoy the tranquillity of grass roots rugby at Maharaia Winiata Park in Judea last Saturday.

There are few prouder clubs in Bay of Plenty rugby than the Judea club and 2010 is a special year for it as it celebrates its centennial.

There was initial disappointment late last season when they were relegated from Baywide rugby to the Western BOP senior competition. However, with pride and honour having a long history in the club - they have set their sights on annexing the Western Bay of Plenty Sub-Union Championship in their 100th year.

In years gone by, the team who wear a playing strip of royal blue with white stripes, has been a real force in local rugby. A BOP Times report from October 1935 tells the story of Judea successfully annexing three competitions in a single season.

The Jordan Cup and the Green Cup were Tauranga sub-union competitions, while the McIntosh Shield is still the prize awarded to the winner of the Bay of Plenty Colts competition.

In today's world, there is often little regard shown for history. The Western BOP Sub-Union have inherited a number of old Tauranga Sub-Union trophies, which are still contested today.

The Jordan Cup is contested today as the local Premier Challenge trophy and is on the line each time the holder meets a fellow Western Bay team. Mr JH Jordan, who was a past Chairman of the Tauranga Sub-Union, presented the magnificent trophy for competition in 1925.

Just last weekend, Rangataua defended the Jordan Cup for the first time this season. In a titanic battle they finished the match with Mount Maunganui with the scores tied at 21 apiece to retain the trophy.

Another Cup with a long history is the Oliver Cup, given for competition by Charles Oliver in 1925. Today the Oliver Cup is the Western BOP Colts challenge trophy, and is currently held by Mount Maunganui.

Mahararia Winiata Park, tucked away in Judea, is a peaceful oasis that looks out on the nearby estuary. Local families lined the park last weekend, with a myriad of children happily playing their own games.

On a beautiful calm autumn day, Judea and the Greerton Marist second team met in round three of the Western BOP senior championship.

While the visitors started with enthusiasm and slotted a penalty goal early in the encounter - the match belonged to the home side. While they took a six or seven try advantage into the half time break - the floodgates opened in the second spell with Judea winning 99-3.

In Baywide Premier news, defending champions Tauranga Sports have continued to lay down the gauntlet to the other contenders. On Saturday they won a battle of attrition to defeat archrivals Whakarewarewa 19-12 at Puarenga Park, to be the only side to win their first three games.

Seeya at the Game.