Steamers vs North Harbour in Katikati

It's official, Moore Park Katikati is to be the venue for the Bay of Plenty Steamers vs North Harbour, pre-season rugby game on June 24.
"It's pretty exciting. I've known about it for six weeks but had to keep it quiet until Mike (Rogers, chief executive of Bay of Plenty Rugby Union) and Dirke (Merwe, BOP Rugby Union commercial manager) came out and inspected the field and facilities," says president of Katikati Rugby Sports Club, Lester Gray.
"My guess is we must have done a good job last year for our union to have the confidence to step it up another level."
Dirke confirms this, "It's really awesome. Last year, they had bigger crowds than most other clubs across the Bay. It shows people's passion for the game and across the area. They proved themselves last year when they ran the Jubilee and have shown they have the ability to host the game."
He says the curtain raiser will begin about 1pm and he is hoping the schools will be allowing students to "knock off a bit earlier to support their teams in the curtain raiser and then watch the Steamers' game."
Children in uniform will get in free while adults will pay $5. Lester has already been in talks with Katikati College principal Neil Harray in the hope of getting schools in the area to release students for the afternoon.
"We are expecting to see between 2000 and 5000 people turn up to watch the game. It'll be the biggest game of rugby the town's seen," Lester says. Katikati College 1st XV is one of the teams that will be playing the curtain raiser but their opponents are yet to be named.
"We are hoping to bring their Saturday game forward," says Lester.
With three or four points of entry and designated parking off Earl Drive, security fencing and a temporary grandstand for seating is to be set up on the roadside. Lester says it will be a huge step up from the seating provided at the Counties Manakau vs Bay of Plenty Wasps pre-season game held in Katikati to celebrate the rugby jubilee last year.
There are Corporate Hosting and Match Day sponsorship opportunities available for those interested to take advantage of, "It's a huge opportunity for the town to get behind it like they did with the jubilee, as well as an opportunity for sports clubs to provide food and beverage," says Lester.