Bay up the ante in bid to retain Kevin Senio

Bay of Plenty have made an improved offer to halfback Kevin Senio, determined to retain him for next year's NPC.

Senio, who was on the All Blacks' bench for last weekend's Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney, has been courted by Canterbury, who are seeking a seasoned replacement for Justin Marshall. Their first choice for this season's NPC is the promising Jamie Nutbrown.

However, the Bay are not about to lose one of their most influential players without putting in their best shot, and tabled a new offer with Senio's manager, Bruce Sharrock, this week.

Since switching south from Auckland for the 2003 season, Senio has become a key figure for the Bay and, as the All Black selectors indicated last week, is firmly in their thoughts for the 2007 World Cup.

"We are desperately keen to hold on to him. He's huge for our rugby," Bay spokesman Craig Morris said yesterday.

"It's vital Kevin stays put for Bay rugby. He fits into our culture superbly."

The lure of Canterbury is obvious. It would be a chance to work with the most successful operation in New Zealand rugby, and to link up with the probable longterm All Black first five-eighths, Daniel Carter.

Morris said the Bay, who won the Ranfurly Shield for the first time last year and reached the NPC semifinals, understood Senio's situation. The union would not stand in his way if that's what he wanted. But they hoped the new offer would help to persuade the 27-year-old to stay put next year.

Sharrock hoped the matter would be resolved by the end of next week.

The All Blacks, and the Bay's Ranfurly Shield game against Canterbury in Christchurch on Saturday, had taken priority in recent days.

"There's a number of factors we need to address, but we don't want it dragging on," Sharrock said.

* All Blacks Carl Hayman and James Ryan return to bolster the Otago pack for Saturday night's match against Auckland at Carisbrook.

Tighthead prop Hayman replaces Chris King, a tryscorer in the opening round win over Bay of Plenty, and lock Ryan bumps Filipo Levi to the bench.

The Auckland team will be named today.

* Taranaki have made two changes for their match against Northland in New Plymouth on Saturday. No 8 Sisa Koyamaibole is dropped to the bench in favour of Brendon McGlashan, and centre Mark Stewart is sidelined by a knee injury, his place going to Andrew Suniula.