FIVE crucial points banked - and the Steamers continue to thrill their long-suffering fans.

Last night in Rotorua, they let slip a 19-point second-half lead over Otago before sealing a 40-30 win in a frenetic last few minutes.

It lifted Bay of Plenty into the top-seven on 26 points with four matches to play, but the performance - mixing equal parts brilliance with borderline incompetence - thoroughly frustrated first-five Mike Delany.

The last of the three home games that we had to win to keep our Top Seven hopes alive. Win this one and we can target Wellington next week to be in contention for the Top Four. Retallick is back starting along with Hohneck, Moa and Burleigh.

Bay of Plenty Steamers v Otago at Rotorua International Stadium Friday 24 September 2010 kickoff 7.35pm.

Bay of Plenty
1 Josh Hohneck 2 John Pareanga 3 Tristan Moran 4 Luke Andrews 5 Culum Retallick 6 Luke Braid 7 Tanerau Latimer 8 Colin Bourke (captain) 9 Taniela Moa, 10 Mike Delany 11 Jason Hona 12 Phil Burleigh 13 Brett Mather 14 Lelia Masaga 15 Toby Arnold.
Reserves: Simon Chisholm, Joe Savage, Luke Katene, Solomon King, Dan Waenga, Cory Aporo, Ben Smith.

Otago
Ben Smith, Joe Hill, Josh Tatupu, Andrew Parata, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Glenn Dickson, Sean Romans, Charlie O'Connell, Alando Soakai (captain), Brad Cameron, Hayden Triggs, Josh Townsend, Kees Meeuws, Peter Mirrielees, Halani Aulika
Reserves: Wyatt McKay, Sam Hibbard, Hoani Matenga, Paul Grant, Johnny Legg, Chris Noakes, Chris Small.

The Bay’s narrow victory over Counties-Manukau showed how a half of rugby is never over until the referee calls it. In both halves, the best work of the Bay was saved for the period after the clock passed 40 minutes.

In the first half, the Bay bumbled their way to a 14-0 deficit into the wind. There were too many penalties conceded, too many balls dropped and the Fan wanted half-time to arrive and an inspired team talk. The late try was a huge bonus as it was definitely more than a “seven point wind”. 

Burgled, stolen, pilfered, pinched - call it what you will but Bay of Plenty kept their season alive in dramatic circumstances at Baypark yesterday.

Mike Delany's last-second try gave the Steamers a 24-21 win over Counties-Manukau, lifting the home side to equal-seventh on the ITM Cup table.

But they used up every ounce of luck against a valiant Counties side, who were denied only by tries in extra time of both halves.