Given the week and the first 40 minutes, Bay of Plenty weren't entitled to beat Northland in Rotorua last night. The fact they opened their season with a 19-14 win speaks volumes for the character of the side.

In a week in which their appointed coach, Greg Smith, has been absent on enforced leave and uncertainty surrounds his continued role, the Steamers squad took a big step towards controlling their destiny with the gutsy win.

Bay captain Joe Savage limped from the field before half an hour was up with his side struggling at 11-3 down.

But in a week where player power had been rumoured to be at the root of Smith's seemingly permanent departure, that same determination carried the Steamers home last night.

At the centre of the victory were two senior pros - No8 Colin Bourke and first-five Mike Delany. They had huge second halves, Delany arguably turned in his most dominant performance at this level, contributing 14 points and controlling the game.

Sean Horan, Bay's caretaker coach, said even though their season is just 80 minutes old, last night's performance was a defining one. "I don't think the boys realise how big this win is. This is season-defining to me, whether we make the top eight, the top four or top 10," he said.

Bourke took over the captaincy when Savage went off injured and said the immediate feeling was "relief."

"From the outside looking in it [Smith's exit] probably looked like [player revolt] but it was bit over our heads. We just knew we had to get on with the job.

"I know we were slow starting, but to come away with the win with what's happened is awesome.

"The supporters can be pretty harsh and I can just see the headline if we'd lost - "It wasn't the coach was it?". So to come out with the win even though it was ugly [is satisfying]."

It was the second time in consecutive encounters the Bay had come out on top of a desperate Northland. Last season in Whangarei they had to overcome the might of the "Save the Taniwha" campaign and a parochial Okara Park.

Last night's clash was just as desperate. Both sides are ranked in the bottom six of the current 14-side competition, which will be culled to 10.

Bay recovered from an ill-disciplined first half to stun Northland, piling on 16 unanswered points after the break as Mike Delany utilised a useful breeze and embossed his raking punts with a sound goalkicking display.

The Steamers were virtually unrecognisable after the break and settled in to lay siege to the Northland line for the first six minutes of the half - an early sign of the momentum shift.

Initially Bay of Plenty had to settle for a Delany penalty to chip into a 3-14 halftime deficit in the 50th minute, but soon after the home side's transformation was rewarded again when flanker Luke Braid ended an 80m breakout.

Delany then stepped up to give Bay of Plenty the lead on the hour and three minutes later the pivot goaled another gift three-pointer when prop Bronson Murray paid for Northland's persistent infringing with a yellow card.

Northland were barely able to launch any concerted attacks after enjoying a dominant opening spell, Delany's counterpart Lachie Munro missed their only genuine opportunity when a 65th minute penalty from in front floated wide.

Northland's steady deterioration mirrored the Bay's first half as a shaky lineout continued to undermine their progress.

Bay of Plenty pilfered six Northland throws in the opening 40 while secure on their own ball.

Northland started impressively when wing Troy Woodman - one of their 12 debutants - was put over in the right hand corner after Bay fullback Zar Lawrence muffed a Munro bomb in the eighth minute.

Munro also profited from Bay of Plenty's poor discipline as referee Josh Noonan awarded the visitors nine first half penalties - three of which were kicked for the former Auckland playmaker.