It's just not in John Moore's nature to complain.

That's why the Bay of Plenty Steamers 48-game veteran's comment about Canterbury being "professional cheats" during their 37-20 Air New Zealand Cup win over Bay at AMI Stadium last night should be taken in the context.

The comment was delivered with admiration by a rugby warhorse who lives and dies by the murky forward arts rather than whinge about them.

Moore had just made a massive 80-minute contribution before declaring the Steamers were beaten by a better team which punished their mistakes with six tries _ three from Bay turnovers, two inside the red and black's own quarter.

Moore believed Canterbury knew exactly what they were doing when the Bay had attacking possession deep in opposing territory.

"They know the rules very well and they know what they're doing. They know where to flop their body, when to attack a ruck _ they know when to do all that kind of stuff.

"It's almost like they let us attack and attack until we were exposed and then they attacked that ruck and got a try from going the length of the field."

Canterbury certainly pushed the envelope all night. Referee Bryce Lawrence was constantly at them for ruck and maul infringements.

The Tauranga-based whistler eventually threw flanker George Whitlock into the sin bin in an attempt to restore some order.

Bay was competitive for large chunks of the game but weren't able to produce enough point-scoring plays. They did score twice, Cory Aporo and Solomon King grabbing tries in each half respectively, while Delany added the other points from his boot.

Unlike last week's loss to Auckland, last night's game wasn't choked up by the Bay. They were beaten fair and square by a side now with seven straight wins.

Bay's problems stem from isolation with first-five Delany and No8 Colin Bourke either the victims of analysis or culprits of their own demise.

They found holes earlier in the season but that room is now being closed by better defences that have obviously cottoned on to the Bay ball players' running habits. Opposition are forcing the two to carry ball into contact and then forcing the turnovers.

Canterbury was also the first team to make a dent in the Bay's scrum this season. They managed one tighthead and almost another as the ball bounced out of halfback Ruki Tipuna's hands.

Canterbury had their fourth try and bonus point in the bank by halftime when they led 23-13.

The bonus point win to Canterbury will keep them at No 2 behind Wellington . If fifth-placed Southland beat Tasman tonight, BOP will fall out of the top four.

Bay of Plenty's final two games _ against Southland and Hawke's Bay _ will determine their quarterfinal role.