There is probably no more vital encounter in the Bay of Plenty senior men's teams current Fergus Hickey Rosebowl campaign, than this weekend's two-day match with Northland.

Hosting the men from the north at the Bay Oval, this Saturday and Sunday, the Bay side will be keen to grab vital points to go towards the Hawke Cup - NZ Cricket Minor Association's most important prize.

Every year, Hawke Cup direct challenges are allocated to each of the four zones, with the Northern District direct challenge given to the winner of a calendar year competition within each Fergus Hickey Rosebowl season.

The half way stage of the race for the 2015 ND direct challenge, has the Bay holding a solitary point advantage from Northland, with Hamilton lurking six points adrift.

While the Bay, have won the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl on 14 occasions since their first title in the 1979/80 season, they have had more modest success in the ND one-day title race, for the Brian Dunning Trophy.

In recent seasons, the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl has opened with three days of fifty over cricket at Owen Delaney Park in Taupo.

The mid November tournament had often been blighted by rain, which has resulted in a change of date to early December, in a search for more settled weather.

The change in date means that the 2014 Bay of Plenty hunt for Hawke Cup points opens with a brace of two-day matches, before three likely vital one-day match-ups in Taupo.

Bay of Plenty Fergus Hickey Rosebowl Draw 2014/15

November 1-2 v Northland at Bay Oval

November 15-16 v Counties/Manukau at Bay Oval

December 7-9 ND One-Day Tournament at Owen Delaney Park, Taupo

7 v Northland

8 v Hamilton

9 v Counties Manukau

January 11 v Poverty Bay at Bay Oval

February 1 v Waikato Valley at Cambridge Square

February 21-22 v Hamilton at Galloway Park, Hamilton

March 7-8 v Poverty Bay at Harry Barker Reserve, Gisborne

Northern Districts Hawke Cup Points

Bay of Plenty 18, Northland 17, Hamilton 11, Poverty Bay 4, Waikato Valley 4, Counties Manukau 0.