One of the great mysteries of Greater Taree ... sorry, Barrington Coast sport has been solved. Sort of.

The much-sought after trophy contested by former Taree and Wingham rugby league players each year since 2009 has turned up, albeit somewhat mysteriously.

The 10th anniversary match will be played this Saturday at Wingham Bowling Club - the scene of the first encounter back on a blisteringly hot day in 2009. So that hippy music festival at the showground won't be the only thing happening in Wingham this weekend.

Wingham scored a landslide win in the inaugural bowls back in '09. Taree responded in kind at Taree West the following year and then Wingham won again in 2001 at Wingham.

And so the trend has continued, with the home team always coming out on top. Taree will be defending the trophy next weekend after 2018's thumping victory at Taree West, or Club West as it is apparently known these days.

However, Houston, there was a problem. Because somewhere around 2015 the Bridgey's Sportspower Shield went missing.

This was the cause of some concern for the organisers. There was a suggestion that Bridgey might fork out for a new trophy, but this was quickly dismissed as fanciful.

The usual suspects were contacted but none knew the whereabouts of the shield. Thorough searches were carried out at Club West and Wingham BC, but these proved to be fruitless.

It wasn't found in time for last year's clash at Club Way Out West, when it was won, as perhaps mentioned, in slashing fashion by Taree. So there was no trophy at the trophy presentation.

Just when it appeared the trophy was gone forever, it has turned up, just like Cooper Cronk's premiership ring. Where it was still remains a mystery to the Taree organisers as Wingham officials remain tight lipped.

So the winners will get to hold the shield aloft early next Saturday afternoon and this will just add more intrigue to the much anticipated clash.

Wingham's coaching director Wayne Goward said the Wingham boys are primed for a supreme effort to ensure the shield stays in Wingham for a bit longer.

However, Taree's tactical adviser/motivational guru Garry Betts sniffs an upset and said he remains quietly confident of creating history by winning away from home. He's been busy for 12 months formulating a game plan.

It should be a cracker of a game, as Phil Gould might say. A full preview will appear in Friday's Times.

Naturally the challenge will return to Taree and Club West next year. Whether participants will have to mix bowls with putt putt golf has yet to be determined.