Bay of Plenty are seeking to write their own part of Hawke Cup cricket history when they attempt to defend the long time symbol of minor association cricket superiority for the fifth time against Canterbury Country this weekend at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.

In 1986, the Bay of Plenty representatives won the Hawke Cup for the first time, after eight unsuccessful attempts dating back to 1932. They defended the minor association prize against Central Otago in the last Hawke Cup Direct Challenge in 1986 and won the first 1987 Challenge against Horowhenua, before losing the Cup to Hawke's Bay.

While they recaptured the Hawke Cup prize from Hawke's Bay courtesy of being the ND Challenger in the Other Bays first defence – they held the Cup for just a week, before Southland came to Blake Park to take the prestigious trophy to the South Island.

The second chapter in Bay of Plenty Hawke Cup history came a decade later, when the Bay defeated an Auckland Manukau team in early March 1997.

Bay of Plenty then defended the Cup against Central Otago smashing a then record total of 553/9. However the first defence in 1998 saw the Hawke Cup move south, when Wellington City relieved Bay of Plenty of the long time cricket prize.

After setting a myriad of new records when the Bay won the Hawke Cup from Hamilton in January 2013 - they hung onto the minor association cricket prize beating Manawatu in a come from behind victory two weeks ago.

There have been some remarkable batting and bowling figures posted during this season. After 10 matches, three Bay of Plenty batsmen are closing in on 600 runs for the season. Joe Carter, who has smashed two centuries leads the run chase with 589, with Brett Hampton just a solitary run behind Carter on 588.

Bharat Popli lurks just behind the leading pair with 580 runs and has taken his all seasons record to 1666 in just five seasons.

The Bay bowlers have also been on fire. Tony Goodin who has taken 27 wickets, is closing in on Jono Boult's most wickets in a season record of 33, that Boult set last year. Tommy Clout, who made his Bay debut in November 2012, wrote his name into Bay of Plenty Cricket history, when he took a hat trick against Poverty Bay last weekend.

Hawke Cup Direct Challenge 2013

Bay of Plenty Team v Canterbury Country

Peter Drysdale (captain) Joe Carter, Bharat Popli, Tom MacRury, Scott Steward, Brett Hampton, Mitch McCann, Tim Clarke, Sean Davey, Tony Goodin, Tommy Clout (12^th man to be added)

Hawke Cup Direct Challenge v Manawatu - Result 8/10 February 2013

Manawatu 275 (B Cleaver 128 B Small 67; Brett Hampton 3/48, Sean Davey 2/37, Jono Boult 2/48, Tony Goodin 2/61) & 188 (B Small 39, M Renwick 30; Tony Goodin 5/72, B Hampton 3/33)

Bay of Plenty 256 (Brett Hampton 89, Bharat Popli 59, Jono Boult 42; R Badenhorst 5/52, T Richards 3/46, B Small 2/42) & 209/3 (Joe Carter 77, Peter Drysdale 43, Brett Hampton 41no. Jono Boult 19, Bharat Popli 12no)

Result: Bay of Plenty won by outright victory (and retained the Hawke Cup)

Hawke Cup Direct Challenge v Hamilton - Result 25/27 January 2013

Hamilton 255 (MJ Santner 60, JG Hatwell 48, AM Dodd 46, OG Ivins 29, AP Devcich 27; TG Goodin 4/74, BR Hampton 3/53)

Bay of Plenty 701 (Brent Hampton 194, Joe Carter 187, Bharat Popli 99, Mitch McCann 69)

Result; Bay of Plenty win the Hawke Cup by way of first innings points.

For further information:

Mark Webb Cricket Manager BOP Cricket

07 575 9120

021 734 128