This time going down to Southland.

Clouds built up and then dumped rain – thank goodness for Kata rain gear.

Hawkes Bay's Michael Coman is tackled by Southland's Matt Saunders in the ITM Cup Rugby match at McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Sunday, August 22, 2010. Credit:NZPA / Kerry Marshall

Luke Rooney pulls some great expressions when he jumps….

Hawkes Bay's Luke Rooney takes a high ball from Southland's Robbie Robinson in the ITM Cup Rugby match at McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Sunday, August 22, 2010. Credit:NZPA / Kerry Marshall

Bay of Plenty followed their pre-season win with a round one win over Hawkes Bay. Images on NZPA.

Bay of Plenty's Lelia Masaga contests a ball against Hawkes Bay's Karl Lowe in the ITM Cup, McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Friday, August 06, 2010. Credit:NZPA / Kerry Marshall

Bay of Plenty's Lelia Masaga, centre, is congratulated after scoring a try against Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup, McLean Park, Napier, Zealand, Friday, August 06, 2010. Credit:NZPA / Kerry Marshall

The next game here counts.

Hawke's Bays Gillies Kaka just misses a try in a pre-season ITM rugby match against Bay of Plenty at McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Friday, July 16, 2010. Credit:NZPA / Kerry Marshall

The first rugby of the new season, a warm-up between Hawke’s Bay an Taranaki at McLean Park, was instead freezing due to a Southerly.

Taranaki's Isaia Tuifua is tacked in a pre season ITM Cup rugby match, McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Friday, July 09, 2010. Credit:NZPA / Kerry Marshall

Photos from the Air New Zealand Cup rugby match, Hawkes Bay vs Canterbury, are here on NZPA. The match started and turned into a classic rugby game with Hawkes Bay taking a lead into half time…..

Canterburys James Paterson is bought down by Hawkes Bays Israel Dagg during the Air New Zealand Cup, McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Thursday, October 15, 2009. Credit:NZPA/Kerry Marshall

Hawkes Bays George Naoupu in action against Canterbury during the Air New Zealand Cup, McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Thursday, October 15, 2009. Credit:NZPA/Kerry Marshall

Canterbury's Casey Laulala drops the ball in a tackle against Hawkes Bay in the Air New Zealand Cup, McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Thursday, October 15, 2009. Credit:NZPA/Kerry Marshall

Then in the second half…..

Canterburys Sean Maitland flattens match referee Chris Pollock during the Air New Zealand Cup against Hawkes Bay, McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Thursday, October 15, 2009. Credit:NZPA/Kerry Marshall

….and the most talked about play of the season.

Hawkes Bay's Sona Taumalolo touches down a disallowed try against Canterbury at the end of the Air New Zealand Cup match, McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Thursday, October 15, 2009. Credit:NZPA/Kerry Marshall

NZPA's Ross Setford watches Canterbury tackle Hawkes Bay's Zac Guildford in the Air New Zealand Cup, McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand, Thursday, October 15, 2009. Credit:NZPA/Kerry Marshall