Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule's promise of a dinner outdid the trick for the Hastings West Ross Shield rugby team last year.
Will it work again is the major question in the countdown to the start of the 111th annual Wattie's Ross Shield tournament, the showpiece of Hawke's Bay Primary Schools rugby, at Park Island, Napier, today.
Last year Yule backed up his promise by taking the team to dinner at the Hastings RSA after the Ross McLeod-coached side returned triumphant from the Dannevirke-hosted tournament.
At last Friday's capping ceremony for IMS Payroll Hastings West at the Hastings Rugby and Sports clubrooms Yule told the team if they or Hastings East win the tournament for the city he would again shout the winning team to dinner.
"The boys were impressed with the incentive.