The Bay of Plenty Steamers are officially at rock bottom.

Yesterday's 30-18 loss to Manawatu at FMG Stadium left the Bay in last spot on the Air New Zealand Cup table after four winless rounds.

The nature of the latest loss is disturbing. Bay had a huge possession advantage, more than 70 per cent, but conceded four tries to three in allowing Manawatu their first win in the premier grade.

There was no ruthless edge to the Steamers. They took wrong options and missed crucial one-on-one tackles while the home side fed off scraps and prospered on opportunity.

First game representative Jason Hona scored two tries during his Bay of Plenty debut and was pretty succinct in his assessment of the performance.

"We let the jersey down today," said the Rangataua club's 21-year-old New Zealand Sevens representative.

It is the lowest moment in Bay of Plenty rugby since it was relegated out of first division in 1978 and 1991.

Schuler said it was frustrating the hard work they had put in last week didn't transpose to the game and he ruled out knee-jerk selection changes.

"I think we've got the best players who are available in the Bay and I know they're all trying hard, but we'll have to have a look at where the opportunities were lost in this game because there were a hell of a lot of them," Schuler said.

"It's pretty frustrating. Manawatu have been desperate for a win for a couple of years _ it had to be us and we don't feel very good about that."

At the opposite end of the scale yesterday was a high for Manawatu, last year's wooden-spooners, the victory ending a 14 competition game winless streak for the Turbos.

Manawatu coach Dave Rennie said it was well-deserved relief for his players who had done a good job of shutting down Bay of Plenty's attack around the fringes.

Coincidentally, the last win Manawatu had in the country's top-flight competition was against Bay of Plenty, back in 1988. Manawatu also won a 1999 encounter when both sides were in the second division.

Bay of Plenty can be thankful promotion/relegation no longer takes place because on their current form they'd be headed for it.

The lineout and scrum are still far from perfect but the cracks, which fully opened against Northland the previous week, resurfaced with possession and territory not turned into pressure and then points. After making good ground, the ball was constantly turned the wrong way or driven one phase too far, allowing the swarming Manawatu side to slow down or steal.

Mike Delany also had an off-day with the boot, kicking just one from five to underline the 2007 Steamers' scoring problems.

Hona's tries showed the first true 80-minute test of the converted loosie's potential as a winger while prop James McGougan, who came on for Matt Wallis in the second spell, also looked a longer-term prospect.

Manawatu were superb and highly dangerous with ball in hand.

Their backline created width and depth and constantly threatened to, and did, break the advantage line.

Their four tries gave them a bonus point, another first, and lifted them to the dizzying heights of 11th. How good that must feel.