Hawke's Bay produced one second of magic _ and it was enough to give them last night's Battle of the Bays against Bay of Plenty  in Rotorua.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Steamers, who will now likely slip out of the Cup competition's top four by tomorrow.

With time nearly up on the clock Bay of Plenty three times gave up possession near their 22, with the competition's top tryscorer Zac Guildford scoring in the left-hand corner from an Israel Dagg cross-kick to give the visitors victory 22-19.

It came against the run of play, with the Steamers seemingly having done enough to register a seventh win, which would have consolidated their position inside the top four.

However, last night's game was about winning the war of attrition right through until the final whistle, something Bay of Plenty couldn't muster.

Magpies skipper Jason Shoemark said the latest result continued their grinding season.

``We haven't given  up all season and this was an important win for us tonight,'' he said.

Steamers captain Colin Bourke was devastated, shouldering some of the blame after being yellow-carded in the first half, on the advice of assistant referee Bryce Lawrence, after a scuffle for the ball over the sideline with Jason Shoemark.

``That probably cost us, they scored six points then,'' said the No 8.

Hawke's Bay led at halftime 9-6, with Matt Burquist and Delany featuring in a goal-kicking duel.

Delany deserved to be enjoying a winning celebration for his 50th game for Bay of Plenty.

Instead, the celebrations were in the Hawke's Bay camp, where All Black hooker Hika Elliot chalked up a half century.

It was Bay of Plenty's first loss at home his season.

The Steamers' defence kept them in the match as they scrambled to thwart the visitor's raids.

All week Bay of Plenty had focused on attacking up front, although they were hamstrung by woeful set piece in the first half, coughing up several lineouts and demolished in the scrum.

Berquist's wide-angled conversion of Guildford's try saw him finish with 17 points, two fewer than Delany.

Delany accounted for all of his team's points, including a 43rd-minute try when he finished off a midfield bust by industrious Bourke.

Delany accentuated his worth one minute later when his boot-lace tackle cut down Hawke's Bay second five-eighth Jason Shoemark just short of the goal line at the other end of the field.