It may have been a gusty spring westerly screaming in over Baypark on Saturday, suggesting sleet and shredding umbrellas, but for the more spiritual, they were the winds of change.

A year ago Bay of Plenty had the worst tight-five in living memory and played with the vigour of road-kill. The union was sliding towards a monumental deficit and support was thinner than an Olympic high-jumper.

Saturday's 38-31 win over North Harbour may not have been completely comprehensive but there was far more significance in the 9200-strong crowd which braved the conditions.

There you go, 9000 screaming fans, four seasons in one day, riveting rugby, and, yes, another win.  Although it was just against the easy beats of the Air New Zealand Cup, North Harbour...

Isn't it amazing how little marketing you have to do when your team is kicking some serious arse, and doing it with some sparkling rugby to boot.

38-31 to the Bay, 5 more points and we stay just a point behind the leaders Wellington. A strong breeze was blowing at Baypark and rather unfairly for Harbour, it settled down in the second half when it was blowing in their favour. After the game started in sunshine, the clouds rolled in and there was a wicked hailstorm just before half-time. The Bay totally dominated the first half but kept on breaking the line without finishing off. After MacDonald had a TMO call go against him, King scooted over in the corner and the Bay were 7-0 up (not a conversion was missed all game).

Bay of Plenty Steamers are in the uncharted territory of second place in the Air New Zealand Cup, as they prepare for the first Cup game at Baypark, Mount Maunganui this Saturday (16 August 2008) afternoon.

Two wins (and a bonus point) from the opening two games, have seen the other championship contenders sit up and take notice. Last weekend the Steamers delighted the large home crowd at the Rotorua International stadium when they ran over Counties Manukau 45-3.