Bayleys Tasman Trophy renews region wide Club rivalries [Nelson Mail]

Tomorrow's opening round of the Bayleys Tasman Trophy rugby championship is the first step towards establishing a regular and meaningful interprovincial club rivalry between Nelson Bays and Marlborough.

The two provinces combine at ITM Cup level, so why not at club level as well?

It's a new format this season, with a full round of competition replacing the previous one-day rugby festival determined by accumulated points between the two provinces.

And according to Tasman's chief executive Andrew Flexman, the aim is to have both provinces' clubs playing each other on a more regular annual basis.

"The goal is to have the Tasman Trophy recognised as our region's most prestigious competition, one that supports and promotes interclub rivalry and is the breeding ground for the majority of our future Tasman Makos," Flexman said.

The 13 teams will compete in two pools determined by their final positions in their respective first-round sub-union competitions.

In pool A, the Nelson Bays Moller Cup champions, Galbraith Group Nelson, meet Marlborough's second-seeded team, Central, tomorrow at Trafalgar Park, with Nelson still the only unbeaten team in both competitions after surviving a torrid examination last week from Taylor's Contracting Wanderers.

Sixth-seeded Marlborough team Moutere host New World Huia at Awarua Park, Moutere having yet to record a win this season and third-placed Huia boasting four wins from six outings.

Nelson Bays' fifth seeds, Accessman Stoke, head out of town with two recent confidence-boosting wins behind them and will meet a useful Waitohi side with key playmaker and Makos' first five-eighth contender Daniel Hawkins back in the mix.

Star and Garter Waimea Old Boys have the opening round bye.

In pool B, Moller Cup runners-up Wanderers are at home to fifth-seeded Marlborough side Awatere at Brightwater where two competitive forward packs will lock horns.

Tomorrow's other two pool B clashes are being played in Marlborough, whose first-round champions, Harlequins, host Enza Riwaka at Lansdowne Park and third-seeded Renwick host fourth-seeded Wakatu Hotel Marist.

Harlequins suffered an upset 26-22 loss to Renwick last Saturday to end their previously unbeaten run and irrespective of the motivating factor that should provide, will be facing a competitive Riwaka side equally determined to improve on their unflattering one-win record from six games.

Previously injured players are now starting to filter back into the Marist lineup and after last week's five-try performance against Waimea, appear to be gathering some critical attacking momentum.

When teams from the same sub-union play each other in the Tasman Trophy competition, the points from that fixture will also carry over into their respective sub-union competitions.

In the event of a tie at the end of pool play, the team with the best points for and against differential will be declared the winner.

If there is still a tie, the team that has scored the most tries will be declared the winner.