In front of one of the largest crowds at Baypark, since the heady days of the Ranfurly Shield - the Bay of Plenty Steamers delighted their vocal home crowd, with solid victory over North Harbour.

Sixteen minutes into the Air New Zealand Cup clash, Steamers flanker Solomon King crashed over near the touchline, to dot down the first Bay try. The response from North Harbour was immediate, resulting in a touchdown to lock the scores at seven all, after twenty minutes.

The last ten minutes of the first half, and first ten of the second spell, belonged to the Steamers who ran in three tries. The second try to Solomon King just before the break saw the home side take a 14-7 advantage into changing rooms.  Tries to Zar Lawerence and Colin Bourke early in the second half brought up the second bonus point of the season. At 28-7 the Steamers enjoyed a comfortable lead - until a defensive error led to Harbours Josh York scampering fifty-five metres to score under the post.

Two Harbour touchdowns, after twenty-four and thirty six minutes, had the visitors right back in the game at 31-28, with the clock ticking down. A measure of a committed side is the ability to absorb pressure and then attack to take out the encounter.  With just three minutes left on the clock, a Steamers attack on the line led to Colin Bourke being awarded his second touchdown of the afternoon. Steamers kicking machine Mike Delany nailed the conversion - to finish the match with five conversions (from five attempts) and a penalty goal.

A consolation penalty to North Harbour on full time saw the Steamers finish with a 38-31 victory. A measure of the intensity of the visitors was provided by Harbour securing two bonus points from the game.  The tight five built a platform for the side’s loosies to go on attack, which was rewarded with two tries apiece to Solomon King and Colin Bourke. Both King and Bourke along with skipper Tanerau Latimer went hunting for the ball all day.

First five pivot Mike Delany made a number of piercing runs, with Zar Lawrence in fine form at the back, running into the back line with real pace on a number of occasions. 

The Steamers motto of “Bay Proud’ was picked up with real enthusiasm by the large partisan crowd. The intensity and playing with the pride of old has brought the blue and gold supporters back in their droves to support “their team”.

While the Steamers sit near the top of the Air New Zealand Cup point’s table, the most exciting aspect is that there is still substantial improvement likely in the side.

Bay of Plenty Steamers 38 (Solomon King 2, Colin Bourke 2, Zar Lawrence, tries; Mike Delany pen, 5 con & pen) North Harbour 31 (Chris Smylie, Josh York, Richard Mayhew, Viliame Waqaseduadua tries; Jimmy Gopperth pen, 4 con). Halftime: 14-7.