Bay of Plenty Cricket show off season's spoils

BAY PRIDE: Ryan Douglas, front left, and Peter Drysdale, front right, with the Hawke Cup, Pap Caps players and Bay reps Chris Atkinson, back left, and Tony Goodin, back right. PHOTO: JOHN BORREN

The Hawke Cup went on a significant journey from its home at Bay Oval to Papamoa Primary School on Tuesday.

The splendid silver trophy, the symbol of minor association cricket supremacy in New Zealand since 1910, was defended four times over the summer by Bay of Plenty.

Captain Peter Drysdale and teammates Tony Goodin, Chris Atkinson and Tim Clarke, showed off the silverware to members of the Papamoa Pap Caps.

"It is cool for us to go and interact with those guys. They obviously know the Black Caps stars from Bay of Plenty, but I guess they don't realise what is in-between," Drysdale said.

"The knowledge of the Hawke Cup is something I think that should be promoted because it is very special and dates back a long time."

It was extra meaningful for pace bowler Goodin who attended Papamoa Primary School when he bowled a few clicks slower than he does today.

"It was all new when I was last here, so it is pretty cool to be back," he said.

"The Hawke Cup means a lot to us; it is pretty much the heartland of cricket. Playing for Bay is where I started my journey from under-14s all the way up so yeah it is a big deal."

Papamoa coach Sy Robertson says the boys had done some research on the Hawke Cup and knew what it meant for Bay of Plenty to retain it over the summer.

"Last year we lost about six players from our top team at Papamoa Primary, and so a lot of the boys hadn't played with a hard ball before," he said.

"I wanted them to get some inspiration for cricket, and I thought this was a really good way of doing it."

Drysdale is honoured to have captained Bay of Plenty to what is a significant milestone this season.

"Every Hawke Cup challenge that you resist is another major success really in terms of your season but to do all four is something we can look back on with pride.

"It has been five seasons since a team defended it all four times and that is the pathway forward to create a bit of a legacy and dynasty for Bay of Plenty cricket which we have an opportunity to do.

"Equally it is so special because it can be lost in a session and in one game and it's gone. While you've got it you just want to make as good a fist of it as you can because it is hard to get your hands on."

But Drysdale and many of the Bay of Plenty team cannot put their bats and pads away just yet.

They are involved in the Williams Cup final between Element IMF Otumoetai Cadets and Carrus Mount Maunganui at Bay Oval on Saturday.

"The Bay season is done now, and it is about finding some more desire as it has been a long season," Drysdale said.

"A lot of guys will want a rest but that's where real passion comes out with the clubs. You go back with your team and you realise how much it means it to the clubs overall as there is a long history with that Williams Cup."