``We made too many silly mistakes that got them on to the front foot _ we didn't get a sniff,'' said Bourke after the final whistle. ``We weren't there tonight. We didn't play too much rugby, but came away with a point which is a positive.''
Horan said there were obviously some issues with the team's mental preparation after they lost their second consecutive away game, which could drop them to third after this weekend's games.
``We just made too many errors and there's a pretty disappointed changing room that we came all the way down here and blew the opportunity,'' he said.
``I don't think it's the wet. It's our preparation away from home and it comes down to accuracy, decision making, passing and taking care of the ball in contact.''
Bay were certainly inaccurate and lacked go-forward and continuity. They also failed to deal with Southland's dodgy slowing and stifling tactic of rolling around the side of rucks and breakdowns, as Auckland did a fortnight ago in the Bay`s previous loss.
Southland skipper Jamie Mackintosh was deservedly upbeat after his side pretty much did a Bay on the Bay _ building a lead through pressure and then defending like mad to the final whistle.
``It was a good start by us for a change.
``It was a bit wet and we let a few errors creep in ... [the win's] massive, huge for us,'' he said of the one try to nil victory.
Both sides struggled early to adapt to the occasion of the top-of-the-table clash and slippery conditions with numerous handling errors setting the tone for the intense struggle.
Southland were the first to settle with their aggressive scrum buckling the Bay, the mental effects created by Mackintosh and Chris King's physical onslaught fuelling the Stags through a huge opening first half where they built a 16-6 lead.
Southland first five eight Robbie Robinson returned from injury and punished the Steamers ill discipline with three successful penalty goals as the home side jumped out to a 9-3 lead after 24 minutes.
Robinson punished them again moments later, this time running from his 25 metre line as the Bay players were guilty of not playing to the whistle, allowing Southland to run in lock Joe Tuineau for a converted try at the other end of the field. Robinson also kicked a penalty late in the second spell to make the match safe for Southland.
Bay spent some chunks attacking the Southland tryline but despite prop Josh Hohneck driving close and three consecutive five metre scrums in the first spell, they couldn't crack the Stags' desperate defence, which was reduced to 14 men when Mackintosh was sinbinned for a shoulder charge just on the break. Mike Delany kicked four penalty goals for the Steamers, one from 50 metres for Mackintosh`s indiscretion.
Bay made seven substitutions in the second spell as they went for fresh legs to increase their push for victory.
The positives were in the successful returns from injury of prop Joe Savage and halfback Josh Hall while Luke Braid was the outstanding individual on Rugby Park for 80 minutes.

SCORES _
Southland Stags 19 (Joe Tuineau tries; Robbie Robinson 4pen, 1con) Bay of Plenty 12 ( Mike Delany 4 pens) HT 16-6 Southland.