Chase Tiatia on his way to score a late try against Otago. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Chase Tiatia on his way to score a late try against Otago. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Bay of Plenty have leapt to second on the Mitre 10 Cup championship table after a meritorious 36-28, bonus point win at Forsyth Barr Stadium today.
A place in the Championship semifinals is now in their own hands with next Saturday's game against Waikato at Tauranga Domain still to play.
Captain Keepa Mewett says increased energy was a key point of difference in today's performance compared to last weekend against Auckland.
"Our patience was a bit better, the guys scrambled a bit better and you have to do that against Otago. We will go back home, have a look at what we done well and not so well and hopefully turn up against Waikato."
Otago opened the scoring with fullback Fletcher Smith cashing in on a smart inside pass from halfback Jono Ruru before two former Otago players made huge plays for the Steamers.
Openside flanker Hugh Blake crossed for a try after smart build-up work from fullback Chase Tiatia. Blake then latched on to a Mike Delany chip kick to storm ahead to set up another attacking raid that led to a penalty by Delany for an 8-7 lead.
From the kick-off blindside flanker Franklin, against the team he played 50 games for, said "I can do that too Blakey" and charged ahead. He set up great ball for the Bay and Terrence Foketi cashed in with a sharp run to the try line.
Otago had a potential try by Jona Nareki wiped out by the TMO but the lethal finisher made no mistake after 26 minutes. Smith goaled a penalty to have the home side ahead 13-12 at the halftime break.
Bay of Plenty had a royal chance in the opening minutes of the second half with Tiatia cutting Otago to bits only for halfback Richard Judd to spill the ball with a try looming.
Delany (two) and Josh Ioane traded penalties to have the Steamers up 19-18 after 54 minutes. Otago had some good spells on attack but Bay of Plenty's defence was composed and well-organised.
Winger Joe Webber was a star performer against Otago. PHOTO/photosport
Then came a turning point in the match. From a turn over 70 metres out, Delany kicked intelligently and from a great chase by Monty Ioane, winger Joe Webber scored. Crucially Delany missed his third conversion for the Steamers to lead 24-18.
Otago's Ioane narrowed the gap to 24-21 with 13 minutes left to play. Then a fine Webber run and Tiatia's strength and determination saw the fullback over. Delany missed again but the Bay were up 29-21 into the final 10 minutes.
Otago struck back with a deadly kick-pass try to Matt Faddes, which Ioane converted to cut the Bay's lead to one-point and set up a thrilling final few minutes.
But it was the Steamers who prevailed with a clinical finish. Foketi began it and then the forwards took over. Five times they drove at the Otago line and were held up before replacement halfback Luke Campbell scored by the posts.
Delany converted and the Steamers held on for a richly deserved 36-28 win.
Tiatia admitted the season has been up and down so the team regarded Otago as a must-win, play-off game.
"We had to win every game heading in. We tried to manipulate their line speed as we know they get off the line quite fast and we just tried to pick holes and run right through them."
Waikato now stand between Bay of Plenty and possibly a home semifinal.
"They always try to bully us so hopefully we can get one up on them, put in a good performance and head into the playoffs with a good win," Tiatia said.
Bay of Plenty 36 (Hugh Blake, Terrence Foketi, Joe Webber, Chase Tiatia, Luke Campbell tries; Mike Delany con, 3 pen) Otago 28 (Fletcher Smith, Jona Nareki, Matt Faddes tries; Smith con, pen; Josh Ioane 2 pen) Halftime: 15-13 Otago
