A 15-10 win for the Bay tonight to move us onto 18 points, 2 behind the leaders Wellington who also won. 23 points was enough to make the top 8 last season so we may be just one win away now.

Tonight was not the best of the Bay, too much dropped ball and failure to finish off chances, especially in the first half. We donated a try to them when Hunt dropped it 10 yards out and Holwell scored. They gave us one back from a lineout 5 metres out. The winning try was scored in the second half after a break by Latimer who waited for MacDonald to scoot through and finish it off. We were hanging on at the end as Northland drove at the line until we turned it over. Delany the standout tonight with superb territorial kicking and a match-saving tackle on Vainokolo when he was one-on-one after an intercept.

The definition of gutsy should be changed to 22 proud men wearing blue and gold.

Everything that's been thrown at the Steamers this season, they've survived.

They've gone from their trip from hell when the Air New Zealand Cup opened up four weeks ago in a flooded Blenheim, to last night's resolute performance against a fired-up Northland side in front of 15,000 screaming fans in Whangarei.

The Steamers won the game 15-10 to extend their unbeaten run but it was the manner of the fight and courage shown in the victory which was notable.

Even big prop James McGougan admitted the atmosphere had his stomach in a spin before the kickoff.

Thousands of the Bay of Plenty Steamers passionate supporters will be tuned into Sky Television on Friday (22 August 2008) when “their” team takes on Northland in Whangarei.

Only the most fervent Blue and Gold followers could have imagined the start that the Bay Steamers would make to this years Air New Zealand Cup. After three rounds of the Cup - the Steamers unbeaten start to the season has put them in second place, just one point behind leaders Wellington.