Steamers' skipper Ben Castle was adamant the opposition deserved much of the kudos for keeping the scoreline so tight, with the win only guaranteed four minutes from time when Cory Aporo pounced on a loose ball in the Manawatu 22. ``I don't know if already being in the quarters made us slightly complacent in this game but they were very competitive at the breakdown and we couldn't get a flow-on,'' Castle said. ``They've got some good line-breakers in their side and once they get that front-foot ball and chuck it out wide, they're a hard side to counter.''

Castle was concerned at the amount of penalties creeping back into the Bay game - at one stage the count was 13-2 in Manawatu's favour as referee Gary Wise kept a heavy lid on indiscretions. But at least there was no clear pattern to the penalties - the rucks and mauls were no worse than the offside rulings, for example. Naturally, the weight of the rule book bent Bay's back first, Manawatu first-five Matt James kicking two early penalties to lead 6-0.
Jamie Nutbrown replied effortlessly for the Steamers, however, scooting through a gap around the ruck after four solid phases and emulating his try in the first-round clash with Manawatu in Rotorua.

Murray Williams missed an early penalty but collected 12 points from two penalties and three conversions, including adding the extras to No 8 Colin Bourke's 44th-minute try which came during Bay of Plenty's best period of the game. Bourke scored after a lively break from replacement midfielder Jeff Ierome and good link work by Simms Davison. Ierome replaced centre Tajhon Mailata, who has a possible broken finger suffered when scrambling to repel a Manawatu foray early in the second half, while Anthony Tahana also came off late in the game clutching his troublesome calf muscle.

Play became more direct with Ierome's intervention, although he did miss several glaring one-on-one tackles. The Steamers' best included Nutbrown, Castle and impressive locks Mark Sorenson and Aaron Rameka.

BAY BRIEFS

Bourkey barrels over
It's been a while between tries for Steamers No 8 Colin Bourke - he scored just his second try for the Bay last night against Manawatu, after scoring his first against the Lions in Rotorua last year. It would have pleased his dad Des no end, who noted last week his boy had crossed 22 times in Hawke's Bay club rugby as a 17-year-old ... but couldn't seem to find the line for the Bay.

Debut blue
Hooker Marcel Cummings-Toone (pictured) was subbed on for John Pareanaga in the 68th minute and his first act in a Steamers jersey was a wonky throw to the back of an attacking lineout, which Manawatu flanker Nick Crosswell picked off and galloped 30m. Things improved for the Bay rookie, who made a couple of good runs to end the match.

Palmy army
Their team can't seem to buy a win but it hasn't detered the Palmerston North faithful, who turned out 9000-strong on a chilly Thursday night despite the prospect of rain. In full voice and with a soldout main stand, the crowd had everything, from fireworks to sideline spa-pools, from Mexican waves to halftime missile demonstrations with free teeshirts. Interestingly, there was a direct correlation between the pair of elusive male streakers late in the game and the sideline spa-pool.

Nifty fifty
Murray Williams' 12 points last night - from two penalties and three conversions - took him to 50 points for the Bay in his last three games. He only missed his first shot at goal - a long-range penalty - and nailed two key penalties in the last quarter. Last week he brought up 100 points in all games.