Rugby: Steamers seal win after fast start

Chris Noakes of Bay of Plenty makes a break. Photo / Getty Images

Bay of Plenty 38
North Harbour 17

Bay of Plenty outflanked North Harbour to clinch a 38-17 bonus-point victory over North Harbour in Mt Maunganui.

In front of 6,000 fans at Bay Park Stadium, the Steamers were too strong for their opponents scoring four tries to two.

The Steamers got off to a hot-start scoring 20 points in the opening twenty minutes with flanker Sam Cane and winger Lelia 'Flash' Masaga crossing for early tries.

Cane burrowed over from close range and Masaga capitalised on a wicked bounce for his opposite David Raikuna to score in the corner.

With first-five Chris Noakes on target with both conversions, the Steamers took a handy 14-0 lead.

Noakes added two penalties as his side exerted control in the opening half as they forced the Harbour side into a number of mistakes.

Harbour had to wait until the 38th minute for the first points of the night with first-five Ben Botica slotting a penalty to go behind 3-20 at the interval.

Masaga crossed for his second try a minute after the restart, stepping past three players on his way to the tryline to the roar of the Bay of Plenty fans.

Noakes couldn't convert, but at 25-3 the Steamers were sitting comfortable at that point despite 38 minutes left to play.

The Albany-based side weren't going to be outdone and number-eight Matt Luamanu started a mini-revival with a try from a quick tap to score in the 58th minute. Botica converted.

Replacement fullback Cody Rei scored his side's second try and Botica clipped over the extras to take the score to 17-28.

However any hopes of a Harbour fightback were dashed in the final ten minutes.

Steamers number ten Noakes kicked his fourth penalty of the night for personal tally of 18 points and winger Ben Smith touched down on the fulltime hooter to push the margin to 38-17.

Bay of Plenty 38 (Lelia Masaga 2, Sam Cane, Ben Smith tries; Chris Noakes 4 pen, 3 con) North Harbour 17 (Mat Luamanu, Codey Rei tries; Ben Botica con, pen; Willie Walker con). Halftime: 20-3.

- Herald online