Magpies gear for ITM final

Hawke's Bay Magpies v Bay of Plenty Steamers. ITM Cup Rugby semi-final at McLean Park in Napier.

The Hawke's Bay rugby union has started making plans for the dream finish to its biggest season in 20 years as it prepares for the Magpies' ITM Cup championships final against Wellington in Napier on Friday night.

The two sides drew 22-all in Wellington last month and have a huge history of matches, dating back well over a century.

Hawke's Bay claimed their place in the final by beating Bay of Plenty 33-26 in a semifinal at McLean Park on Saturday afternoon, while the Wellington Lions beat Otago 34-14 in the second semifinal a few hours later in the capital.

It is 10 years since the Magpies last had a home final, in the second division in 2005, and have had three consecutive away finals in the ITM Cup, losing the last two, by a point to Tasman in Nelson two years ago and last year by eight points to Manawatu in Palmerston North.

There is a long history between the two unions playing this weekend and a needle-edge rivalry over the last half-century sparked by a drawn Ranfurly Shield match in 1967.

Union marketing manager Jay Campbell is excited by the upcoming fixture and said: "We couldn't have asked for anything more, it's a marketing dream."

Mr Campbell said season ticket holder and sponsor ticket options were being dealt with first. Sales to the public start tomorrow morning, with grandstand seats at $32.50 for adults and $22.50 for children, and a Take A Kid to the Footy zone option of $25 for an adult and a child, plus $7.50 for each extra child.

Embankment admission will be $12.50 for adults and $7.50 for children.

Gates will open at 6pm, and curtainraiser options are being considered.

It will be the Magpies' 10th first class match at McLean Park this season, equalling a record 10 set in 1995, when overseas sides ACT from Australia, Western Province from South Africa and the Cook Islands national team were among the visitors.

The number of Hawke's Bay home matches this season is thought to have been a factor in a slightly smaller than anticipated crowd on Saturday, and Mr Campbell was aware of those who were "saving it for the final".