ITM title the perfect farewell

Brendon O'Connor at right, in the Hawke's Bay Magpies v Bay of Plenty Steamers semi-final at McLean Park in Napier. Photograph by Hawke's Bay Today photographer Paul Taylor

Hawke’s Bay are playing for promotion and to send captain Brendon O’Connor out on a winning note when they host Wellington tonight in the ITM Cup final. It is the former Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 player’s last game for the Magpies before joining English side Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership.

No matter what happens at McLean Park tonight O’Connor will be back in Gisborne on Sunday to spend time with parents Rick and Rosanna, extended family and friends. He flies to England on Wednesday.

O’Connor took time out from preparing for Hawke’s Bay’s most important game of the season to speak to The Gisborne Herald. While tonight’s final has the potential to be a fitting finale to a fine season for O’Connor he insists the game is not about him.

“We’ve not really talked about it being my last game,” said O’Connor, who turned 26 on September 11. “It’s not every day you get to play a cup final on your home ground and after losing the past two finals away, our focus has been on putting in a good team performance.

“It’s in the back of my mind (playing his last game for Hawke’s Bay) and I suppose it will hit me after the final whistle. Until then all our energy will be put into enjoying the moment and making up for the two previous final losses.”

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Connor, who has been among the Bay’s most consistent players this season, said “finals footy was all about taking the chances you create”. “There’s not a lot between the sides. The last time we met it was a 22-all draw. We learned some things about them and they did about us.”

Hawke’s Bay’s potential match-winner could be first five-eighth Ihaia West. He has scored 445 first-class points for the Magpies — only the late Jarrod Cunningham (1007) and Ian Bishop (631) have scored more for the province,

The Lions, relegated from the Premiership last season, have the chance to bounce straight back. They will also be looking to send All Black lock and Gloucester-bound Jeremy Thrush out a winner.

Throughout the NPC/ITM Cup history, the teams have met 21 times, with Wellington winning 14, Hawke’s Bay six, and the one draw just four weeks ago.