And several individuals stood out, promoting their names vigorously toward Steamers selection next month.

Among them - and this was probably the prettiest sight - was Rena Schuster in full flight, gliding and jinking and making shuddering hit upon shuddering hit on the shell-shocked Swamp Foxes.

Though maybe Swamp Donkeys would have been a better term.

This season has been a breakthrough for 26-year-old Schuster, the Rotorua-raised midfielder.

Just before he crossed the Kaimai Ranges to link back with the Bay nearly two years ago, he felt a niggle in his groin while playing the Waikato club finals. It steadily worsened, ruining his season last year and causing him to question his future in the game.

"That first year I was just starting to feel it and it was holding me back and last year was really tough," Schuster said.

"I tried heaps of things, and lots of rest. I tried not running for three months but as soon as I came back, it was there again.

"But lately I've done a lot of work on core strengthening. Last year, it was left up to me to do it but this year there's quite a big emphasis on it in our fitness programmes. Now I'm striding out and loving it."

His pace has returned, as has his elusiveness, causing a pleasant problem for Steamers selectors, who have to fit Cory Aporo, Wayne Hughson, Tajhon Mailata and Schuster into one midfield.

In between turning out for Rotoiti, Schuster has been helping his father restore marae meeting houses in Rotorua, but is eager to rejoin the professional rugby ranks.

"We're just about to finish that project, in time to start fulltime training - hopefully. I've still got to make it but if they picked me when I was sore, hopefully they'll pick me now that I'm all right."

Of yesterday's run-on XV, only wing Teu Nafe would be a sure starter for the Steamers' Air New Zealand Cup campaign.

Strong performances from both locks yesterday - Culum Retallick and Aidan Kuka - did their chances no harm, while No 8 Solomon King broke the line at will and sparked several attacks.

It was lambs to the slaughter, however, and Thames Valley coach Ross Cooper admitted the size of the Bay team caught him by surprise.

"There was a huge difference in the strength of this team from the one we played last year - we feel a little bit aggrieved really," Cooper said. "It was a lot stronger than we anticipated. There's a huge difference between that sort of level and size and what's in our club rugby.

"The Bay were really well drilled and we didn't get any ball, apart from scraps. Just the speed and the size that they've got - I was quite impressed with them."

Replacement flanker and New Zealand under-19 player Luke Braid scored three tries and looked completely at home at the level, as did Rotorua teenager Matt Vant Leven.

BOP XV 96 (Luke Braid 3, Teu Nafe 2, Ngarimu Simpkins 2, Marty Bourke, Rena Schuster, Solomon King, Toby Arnold, Chris Elvin, James McGougan, Alamoti Te Pou tries; Schuster 2con, Kelly Haimona 11con) Thames Valley 0.

HT: 54-0.