Bay of Plenty has had a low-key but successful start to their rep rugby season with two blue and gold XVs winning their respective halves in a 'game of three halves' against Wanganui and Manawatu on Friday afternoon in the unlikely location of Taihape.

With the Bay's Super Rugby players still on duty and those in the weekend's club final not involved in the pre-season training exercise in Fred Dagg territory Steamers coach Clayton McMillan took the opportunity to give a number of fringe and academy players gametime in the blue and gold jersey.

They lined up alongside established Steamers such as returning All Black Tanerau Latimer, Solomona Sakalia, Terence Hepetema, Ajay Mua, and Hugh Blake across the two fifteens.

The Bay's Baby All Black Kaleb Trask, recently returned from the Under 20 World Championships in France, wore the 10 jersey in both halves, outside up-and-coming Tauranga Sports halfback Leroy Carter.

Bay XV number one opened the day with a 24-14 win over Wanganui in the first half, before XV number two took care of Manawatu 21-7 in the second.

The Steamers' season gets underway Friday August 10 in Katikati with a warmup encounter against Auckland, before they take on Taranaki in their Mitre 10 Cup campaign opener in Rotorua on Saturday August 18.

Bay of Plenty XV v Wanganui:

1. Solomona Sakalia

2. Miracle Lalofi

3. Josh Davey

4. Baden Wardlaw

5. Stan Van Den Hoven

6. Matt Axtens

7. Kaipo Brown

8. Ajay Mua

9. Leroy Carter

10. Kaleb Trask

11. Pryor Collier

12. Matt Garland

13. Dennon Robinson

14. Josh Honey

15. Bailey Simonsson

Bay of Plenty XV v Manawatu:

1. Tom McHugh

2. Valentine Meachen

3. James Lay

4. Baden Wardlaw

5. Aaron Carroll

6. Tanerau Latimer

7. Hugh Blake

8. Hoani Matenga

9. Leroy Carter

10. Kaleb Trask

11. Matt Garland

12. Terrence Hepetema

13. Liam Steele

14. Faasiu Fuatai

15. Bailey Simonsson