It was a coming of age for the Bay of Plenty Steamers on Saturday.
The 33-16, five tries-to-one, victory over Otago was as comprehensive as the score indicates and the win was a significant marker in the progress of the team.
The players took their collective game to a new level. The confidence on attack and accuracy moving the ball were much improved, and when the going got tough playing into a blustery wind in the second half, the defensive steel shown was outstanding.
The new maturity was most evident in the inside back pairing of halfback Te Aihe Toma, 21, and first-five Dan Hollinshead, 19. Their option-taking was particularly good and both proved resolute defenders.
Hollinshead took the individual honours with an 18-point haul, including two well-taken tries, but he would be the first to praise the efforts of the excellent set piece ball delivered by one of the competition's best forward packs.