If the old adage about learning more from a loss rings true, then the Bay of Plenty Steamers will return from their first pre-season match yesterday with plenty to work on after being beaten 26-18 by Taranaki at Yarrow Stadium.

The cold facts were they were out-scored and out-finished three tries to two, although there were plenty of good signs for first-year coach Greg Smith.

"The learning curve's going up, we're building," said Smith after a performance which has provided the mark for where the team are  after 12 days together.

"We created ourselves enough opportunities, but our options and execution was what let us down. They're all fixable, that's why it's good to get a measure.

"I've got a list of things we're going to work through. It's our first game. We had a number of guys out. We had a look at our depth, where we're at - there's enough positives.

"Obviously we didn't get a result - but we didn't deserve it either."

The Bay finished strongly, hammering away at a Taranaki line, which had been reduced to 14 with lock Jarad Hoeata in the sinbin for persistent infringing.

As Smith said, they were only possibly "a pass away" from another try when time was up. They also left some points on the park, with first-five Nick McCashin having a difficult day with the boot.

He landed a solitary conversion and two penalties, missing two further three-pointers from handy spots.

Taranaki scored two  tries from Bay mistakes, the first  coming just seconds after fullback Toby Arnold created some momentum for Clinton Toopi to open the scoring.

A kick was poorly chased, Taranaki countered and sloppy tackling saw winger Nathan Hohaia scoring in a blur.

The home side's third try came from a quick tap penalty which caught Bay napping and created a big overlap for centre Willie Rickards.

Their other came around the ruck fringe as halfback Brett Goddin burrowed over following a constructive buildup and surge from Rickards.

The Steamers' defensive lapses, a huge problem last year, are still there, with individual misses to clean up and defensive screens to perfect, and the Bay were beaten in the contact area by a physical Taranaki pack in the first spell.

Referee Craig Morrison puzzled with his interpretation of the breakdown, with the Taranaki whistler blowing in excess of 26 penalties.

Smith was satisfied with the set play, with the scrum and lineout closer to solid than wobbly, while the driving maul also looks tidy.

All 22 players got on the park with the exception of hooker Dean Elmiger, who spent the afternoon back at their accommodation in Waitomo in quarantine after falling foul of the flu rippling around the squad.

Two players not selected in the Air NZ Cup squad - Arnold and halfback Steve Wallace - gave efforts to remind the selectors they are about, while forwards Luke Braid, Solomon King, Culum Retallick and captain Joe Savage all got through 80 minutes of forward graft.

The Steamers' next pre-season game is against Counties-Manukau next Friday in Whakatane.

Scorers:

  Taranaki 26 (Nathan Hohaia, Willie Rickards, Brett Goodin tries; Willie Ripia con, 3 pen) Bay of Plenty 18 (Clinton Toopi, Himiona Marr tries; Nick McCashin con, 2 pen) HT 20-10.