Steamers trial in Rotorua tonight

Steamers head coach Clayton McMillan. Photo/Andrew Warner

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union ITM Cup Trial
Rotorua International Stadium, tonight, 6pm

Steamers head coach Clayton McMillan and assistant coach Rodney Gibbs have named two teams for the official Steamers trial to be held at Rotorua International Stadium at 6pm tonight.

"What we are looking for are people who are capable of performing at the ITM Cup stage.

People have been selected on merit based on the performances we have seen of them during the club season," McMillan said.

"This is another avenue for them to showcase themselves in a trial situation. Those who are good enough may find they get selected."

McMillan said the trial game was a showcase of the best of the Steamer hopefuls.

"We don't want it to turn into a circus or anything like that.

It will be a proper game with two 40-minute spells. There will be the ability to change within each team but that is not what we are planning to do.

"We will have pretty set structures about the amount of time people will play.

It is a midweek game and we are getting to the end of the club season so we aren't going to overload any player, given that they are having to back up on Saturday."

Team Blue:
Solomona Sakalia Mount Maunganui
Joe Royal Rotoiti
Jeff Thwaites Tauranga Sports
Tim Bond Te Puke Sports
Keepa Mewett Tauranga Sports
Eru Wano Te Puke Sports
Zak Hohneck Rotoiti
Lionel Skipwith Rotoiti
Te Aihe Toma Te Puna
John Dodd Tauranga Sports
Caleb Hall Greerton Marist
Tino Nemani Greerton Marist
Jason Harvey Tauranga Sports
Brynn Uriarau Te Puke Sports
Jesse Dodunski Tauranga Sports
Tukaha Carter Te Puke Sports
Joe Key Greerton Marist
Taylor Jones Greerton Marist
Daniel Crowther Tauranga Sports
Zak Hohneck Rotoiti
Matty Cole Te Puke Sports
Tim O'Malley Greerton Marist
Te Rangi Fraser Whakarewarewa

Team Gold:
Ziggy Fisiihoi Rotoiti
Vyron Smith Mount Maunganui
Leigh Hughes Mount Maunganui
Troy Callandar Greerton Marist
Lars Morrice Te Puke Sports
Brett Ranga Mount Maunganui
Matty Axtens Mount Maunganui
Jesse Acton Tauranga Sports
Jonty Wood Mount Maunganui
Nick Evemy Tauranga Sports
Jone Lagibola Whakatane Marist
Marnus Hanley Mount Maunganui
Jonah Bainavalu Whakatane Marist
Le Roy Van Dam Greerton Marist
Craig Clare Paroa
Wade Pereira Whakarewarewa
James McGougan Paroa
Tristan Healy Whakatane Marist
Dan Goodwin Te Puke Sports
Luke Schuler Greerton Marist
Matty Axtens Mount Maunganui
Pera Gibbs Mount Maunganui
Doug Edwards Whakarewarewa
Maake Taulahi Whakarewarewa
Ben Tyler Mount Maunganui

Outlined below are the position specific selectors for this year's ITM Cup trial.

The group provides a wealth of playing and coaching experience in the Bay of Plenty Rugby jersey. They also know what is required of players to perform on the ITM Cup stage.

Position Specific Selectors:
Ngarimu Simpkins Hooker
Warwick Morehu Prop
Steve Axtens Lock
Wayne Ormond Blindside and No8
Charles Te Kowhai Openside
Charles Hubbard Halfback
Ronnie Preston 1st 5
Darrell Shelford Midfield
Matt Te Pou Winger
Steve Milne Fullback