It might have made it a bit trickier to drink from the chalice, but even a suspected broken finger couldn't dim Bay of Plenty captain Pete Drysdale's pleasure at claiming the Hawke Cup for the second time in his tenure.
Hello old friend: Pete Drysdale and the Hawke Cup go back
Three seasons ago, Drysdale was the man lifting the premier District Association trophy from Hamilton after a strong Bay of Plenty had put a Hawke Cup record tally of 701 on the board — and then they defended the trophy on four occasions, before losing to Manawatu in February 2014.
The 2015/16 Bay of Plenty senior rep team included a clutch of veterans from that side and, on Sunday, they overcame Hawkes Bay at Napier's Nelson Park by six wickets in the final Hawke Cup challenge of the season.
And what a rollicking season it was, an unprecedented level of national and media interest registered in the historic challenge competition as Buller — the smallest cricket association in New Zealand — famously lifted the Hawke Cup for the fist time after more than a century of competition. The occasion was so big that a civic reception was held in their honour when they got back to Westport.
Buller would surrender the Cup at Craddock Park two weeks later, but they were not alone in their heartbreak. No team successfully defended the Cup all season as the silverware went on a summer roadie that took in Canterbury, the West Coast, Oamaru, Napier and finally Mount Maunganui.
The Hawke Cup's epic 2015/16 roadie
January 2016
February 2016
February 2016
March 2016
