Last week the Fan labelled the Tasman game a “potential banana skin”. Well consider the Steamers well and truly flat on their backs with their legs waving comically in the air. Have you ever watched a game where one team outscored the other by three tries and still lost?

This could be the time to launch into criticism of the referee but this task has already been undertaken by the skipper to a much larger audience. Suffice to say that the Fan always gets a sinking feeling when the referee looks younger than most of the players.

Blenheim’s rugby ground is a quaint little place and the crowd was small and quiet – at least until the multiple lead changes sparked them to life. Lansdowne Park delivered the usual Tasman welcome for the Steamers, a blustery wind but miraculously it was finally a dry day.  Maybe the Bay has forgotten how to play rugby with a dry ball. As it turned out, playing with the wind proved little advantage and the rewards came for the side who kept hold of the ball.

The Fan suspects that the Bay gameplan was to go all out for the 4 try bonus point and let the win look after itself. That plan backfired badly and we were never able to impose any dominance in a structured way. While we were able to cross Tasman’s line at will, our defence wilted badly for ten minutes either side of half-time.

This season the Fan has detected a familiar pattern when the Bay is defending. Tackle, ruck, fight for turnover, penalty awarded to opposition. The new law interpretations this year have made getting your hands on the ball a dangerous tactic and surely the time has come to rethink this tactic and rely on dominant tackles and driving over the ball.

Looking on the bright side, the two points gained against Tasman leave the Bay with dual battles to fight. The game against Southland on Saturday afternoon will leave the winners with a chance of the semi-finals and also a Top Seven position will be secured for the winning province which means a spot in the Premier Division for 2011.

Southland are coming off the loss of the Ranfurly Shield after a few stirring defences and they are a very well drilled unit with few frills. The Bay has to front up this weekend and give everything in the game that will define the season and secure a place at the top table next season. There’s also the small matter of revenge for our quarter-final collapse at Baypark 2 seasons ago.

So make a note in your calendar for 2.35pm on Saturday afternoon. The Fan has checked the long-range weather forecast and no rain is predicted. Get down to Baypark and give the players your full vocal support. Go the Bay!