A boiling hot day down at Baypark and the Steamers started like a traing and then rather limped home. A superb first-half saw us leading 20-3 and when we scored a couple more tries to lead 30-8 it looked all over. The Stags came back though and as we tired badly. All's well that ends well and take maximum points on Thursday against Northland and other results could see us into the Top 4.

Bay of Plenty 33 (Mike Delany, Lelia Masaga, Toby Arnold, Taniela Moa, Colin Bourke tries; Delany con, 2 pen) Southland 22 (James Wilson, Seminar Manu, Brayden Mitchell tries; Wilson 2 con, pen). HT: 20-3

Top 6: Canterbury 45, Waikato 40, Auckland 40, Wellington 38, Taranaki 37, Bay of Plenty 37.