Manawatū is on a mission to lift the storied Hawke Cup from their biggest provincial rival.
On the opposite side of the North Island coast, Hawke's Bay has had the historic silver chalice - contested by New Zealand's provincial districts since 1910/11 - locked away all winter and is plotting and planning for a second successful consecutive defence.
The first Hawke Cup Challenge match of the season begins this Friday morning at Napier's Nelson Park - the home of Hawke's Bay Cricket who lifted the silverware from North Otago in Ōamaru last season, and then defended it at home against Hamilton.
Manawatū and Hawke's Bay play each other regularly at all levels as two of the eight District Associations that make up Central Districts, and they share a longstanding rivalry that goes up a level whenever any trophy is on the line.
New Zealand is divided into four Hawke Cup 'Zones' and, each season, the district teams within each Zone compete among themselves for the right to a Challenge match against whomever is the current Hawke Cup holder, the Challenges staggered across the back half of summer.
Manawatū and Hawke's Bay both sit in Zone 2 - and the green and white of Manawatū has already trumped the black and white of Hawke's Bay once this summer by winning CD's Furlong Cup interdistrict competition which also confers the right to challenge for the Hawke Cup
Hawke's Bay had won the Furlong Cup for the previous three seasons until Manawatū relieved them of it this summer by a narrow margin of two points - the two teams finishing well clear of the other four teams.
Hawke's Bay will quickly point to the weather in having had a say in those standings.
The only head-to-head Furlong Cup fixture between the two behemoths was abandoned due to a rainstorm in December, but Hawke's Bay also suffered an additional washout in their round against Horowhenua-Kāpiti in Levin in November so there will no doubt be scores to settle in the Challenge match this weekend.
While Hawke's Bay has dominated Zone 2 in recent seasons, it's been a long time between drinks for Manawatū who last challenged for the Hawke Cup in February 2014.
Bay of Plenty was the holder at that time and had staved off all challengers for the best part of two seasons until Manawatū came to visit.
Central Stags wicketkeeper-batsman Dane Cleaver held five catches in the first innings then scored an unbeaten 102*, alongside Dave Meiring's 128, as Manawatū amassed 315/6 to beat Bay of Plenty on the first innings at Blake Park.
Luke Murray was captain of the Manawatū side that day and now coaches the team that went on to stave off challenges from Canterbury Country, Southland and, the folllowing summer, Taranaki and Northland at their Fitzherbert Park fortress in Palmerston North, before finally surrendering the silverware to Zone 3's strong Canterbury Country in February 2015.
Manawatū last met Hawke's Bay in a Hawke Cup Challenge match in February 2010 - also at Napier's Nelson Park where Manawatū challenged with a quick youth named Adam Milne in the side who bowled a young number three named Doug Bracewell, and whacked 42 batting at nine.
Manawatū won the battle on the first innings, and they'll be hoping that history repeats itself when the rivalry reignites in the three-day match coming up - Hawke's Bay needing to win on the first innings or outright to retain the precious Hawke Cup.
Strong Canterbury Country is meanwhile gearing up for a Zone 3 Final against Marlborough that Canterbury Country will host in Rangiora on Waitangi weekend to determine the Zone 3 challenger this season.
All Hawke Cup Challenge matches are live-scored at www.nzc.nz or on the NZC app.
CHALLENGE MATCHES 2021/22 (updated)
28-30 January 2022 | Hawke Cup Zone 2 Challenge (Hawkes Bay defeated Manawatu at Nelson Park, Napier)
11-13 February 2022 | Hawke Cup Holder Hawke's Bay v Zone 1 Challenger Bay of Plenty, at Nelson Park, Napier
25-27 February 2022 | Hawke Cup Holder v Zone 3 Challenger Canterbury Country (venue tbc)
11-13 March 2022 | Hawke Cup Holder v Zone 4 Challenger (venue, teams tbc)
