With all but the Bay Development team playing their last Northern Region competitions games this weekend - the Bay of Plenty age group sides in action are sure to want to finish their season with a flourish.
The Bay Development side, arguably the most improved team in the Northern Regioncompetition, will again provide the entree to the Steamers game at Baypark, Mount Maunganui on Sunday afternoon. They will square up against North Harbour in the curtain-raiser, before completing their season against Northland in Auckland on October 13.
After a couple of close losses, the Bay side finally got on the right side of the ledger against arch rivals Waikato at Waikato Stadium last week. Jesse Acton, who has Steamers game time this season, scored one of the Bay side's three tries with Dwayne Burrows and Marty Stevenson also touching the ball down. Reliable goal kicker Willie Ripia added to his season points tally, converting all three tries and adding a penalty goal for good measure in the 24-15 victory.
Last weekend, the Bay of Plenty U20 team grabbed their first win of the Northern Region competition in emphatic style beating Counties Manukau who have been the heavyweights of the competition in recent seasons. Tomorrow they meet Northland at a neutral venue in Auckland.
The Bay of Plenty Under 18 team will end their season by hosting Counties Manukau in the playoff for fifth and sixth.
Both Bay of Plenty Under 16 teams will hit the road in their final outings of the season. The Under 16 A side, who have lost just one game during the season, will play Thames Valley in Paeroa, while the B team play Counties Manukau in Papakura.
