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.

"They gave us a good schooling in the first half and we were definitely on the back foot," Steamers lock Luke Andrews said.

"The second half, we were able to get some good field position and our defensive lineouts started operating a lot better but we were pretty lucky in the end."

Delany needed painkillers to play after his back stiffened up during a hard week of training and he subsequently struggled with his kicking, missing three shots at goal. But he had enough nous to find the line after Taniela Moa's quick tap.

Using the strong wind, Counties had earlier chipped out a 14-0 lead with time up in the first spell, as Bay turned down easy shots at goal to run the ball into the breeze at all costs.

They blew a number of half-chances, turning the ball over 12 times in a disastrous 39mins, until finally getting things together in a multi-phased attack after the halftime hooter sounded.

After a tap-penalty close to the line, wing Lelia Masaga scored against his old team - his sixth of the season - by jinking past an accumulation of forwards in midfield and diving over next to the posts. Delany converted for his side to only trail 14-7.

Moa, who was subbed on at halfback late in the first half, sliced his way over 10mins into the second spell after another tap-penalty and Counties' hard-fought lead had evaporated.

When Delany added a penalty to take the lead soon after, it looked like Bay could pull away with it, especially with Andrews dominating the lineouts brilliantly. The veteran lock, only called in yesterday morning when Culum Retallick pulled out with concussion, had the Counties throws dialed, pocketing five of the opposition lineouts.

But Counties weren't finished. Their slick backs combined with seven minutes left, with impressive centre Siale Piutau latching on to a break made by replacement wing David Raikuna.

The visitors tied things up for the next five minutes, driving close to the rucks, before conceding a crucial penalty - further quick taps by Colin Bourke and Moa eventually paved the way for Delany's late heroics.

"We knew we had seven minutes to go after scoring that try and we tried to chew it up and keep it in tight but we gave away a silly little penalty and that was the game," Counties captain Jamie Chipman said.

"We probably played for 39mins in both halves and just got stung in the last minute. The way the competition is, you've got to play for the full 82mins."

In contrast, it was a sweet way for Steamers flanker Tanerau Latimer to cap his 50th game - especially as he slotted the conversion to Delany's try from wide out.
"We definitely got out of jail on that one but I guess it says something about the spirit in this team that we were able to come through and get the points," Latimer said.

The Steamers have just five days to prepare for their next match against Otago in Rotorua on Friday night.