While the Bay of Plenty Steamers held onto their Air New Zealand Cup unbeaten run this season - they had to withstand a sustained Northland attack in the last minutes of the match.

With the knowledge that Northland wanted to produce a victory in front of their supporters who have stayed loyal to the team  – The Steamers knew that they faced a battle royal.

Northland made the early running in the game - before a rare incursion into enemy territory by the Bay, saw Mike Delany calmly slot the penalty goal, to put the first points on the board.

Plenty of probing kicks, by Northland first five David Howell, kept the team from the far north on attack. A Steamers error near the goal line after twenty minutes saw Holwell cross for a try – which he converted.

A Steamers fight back had the visitors hot on attack - just failing to score in the corner. The resultant lineout, where the Steamers stole the ball from a Northland throw, resulted in prop James McGougan crashing over for the try. Ever steady Mike Delany kicked the conversion to put the Steamers in front.

The last ten minutes of the first spell saw the Steamers in control, nearly touching down again. An 8-7 lead to the Steamers at the break had the game up for grabs.

Minutes into the second spell a Steamers attack split the Northland defence wide open with Lance Macdonald galloping over for the touch down.

After the successful Delany conversion the home side came straight back at the Steamers. A resultant Steamers mistake was punished by Holwell who slotted the penalty goal.

The last quarter developed into a real arm wrestle with both teams having their chances on attack. A final desperate Northland attempt for victory in the dying minutes had the Steamers grimly hanging on.

At the final whistle, a relieved Steamers unit left the field with a 15-10 victory to put in the record book.

A feature of the Steamers game this season has been their excellent set play. The Northland game was no different - with a solid scrum, and some excellent work from the line out jumpers.

While the Steamers have posted a four from four win record in the opening rounds of the Air New Zealand Cup, there is still plenty of improvement left in the side. A over enthusiastic approach to running the ball up field saw a number of turnovers to the opposition.

However Head Coach Kevin Schuler and his coaching team can be well pleased to take a victory away from the Okara Park cauldron.

Bay of Plenty Steamers 15 (James McGougan, Lance MacDonald tries; Mike Delany pen & con) Northland 10 (David Holwell try, pen, con)