Bay of Plenty is hoping to end their Fergus Hickey campaign in style with their final match against Poverty Bay ending the Bay side's campaign this weekend.

While Bay is off the pace in the current seasons Fergus Hickey title race – they hold an unbeaten start in the chase for the 2015 ND Hawke Cup Direct Challenge.

The ND Hawke Cup Direct Challenge is decided over a calendar year of Fergus Hickey competition, with the Bay having taken out one-day victories over Poverty Bay and Waikato Valley and first innings points in the two-day match with Hamilton.

But one trophy that will sit on the sideline this weekend is the Rigden Shield, contested in two-day games between Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay each season.

The first game between the two ND minor associations was played in 1945, with Bay of Plenty winning the first Rigden Shield match at Rex Morepeth Park in Whakatane in April 1946.

One Rigden Shield game worth a mention, is Mike Wrights first of 102 games for Bay of Plenty, as told in 'Caught Wright Bowled Beard” which is the story of the first 80 years of Bay of Plenty Cricket.

'Poverty Bay batted first and declared at 415/5, with John Guy in magnificent form smashing an unbeaten 195. There was quite a story around why John Guy was denied a double century.

'Our captain, Peter Blake, called for a new ball, to which Poverty Bay said that they didn't have one available. After much discussion, which included a proposal to go into town to buy a new ball, Guy declared, denying himself the opportunity to post a double century.

'The atmosphere was quite tense for a time after the declaration.”

Bay of Plenty certainly will not be taking the Poverty Bay challenge at the Bay Oval lightly, as the visitors are currently experiencing their best season for a number of years, albeit with several Bay of Plenty players turning out for Poverty Bay during the season.

Bay of Plenty v Poverty Bay at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui - Saturday and Sunday.