Ranfurly Shield: BOP Steamers fall to Hawkes Bay

Match referee Kane McBride red cards Bay of Plenty's Tino Nemani during the Ranfurly Shield match between Hawke's Bay and Bay of Plenty. Photo/Getty

Bay of Plenty Steamers dreams of winning the Ranfurly Shield 10 years after their only success foundered in Napier this afternoon.

The 36-17 loss to the Hawke's Bay Magpies was disappointing as the performance again this season did not do justice to the team's ability. A red card to Tino Nemani late in the game was the final blow to the Steamers.

Steamers had first use of a stiff breeze and gusty showers in the first half. Magpies awarded the first penalty of the match to set up an early attack. Winger Tino Nemani turned the ball over after seven phases to clear.

10th minute: lineout penalty to Steamers on halfway. Fullback Byron McGuigan hits post with a fine kick.

15th minute: Magpies penalty after good phase play. Ihaia West kicks the goal from 22m. Magpies 3-0. Jason Shoemark knocks on from kickoff to give the Steamers a great attacking chance. But it came to nothing after Steamers carelessly turned the ball over and Magpies broke away from a kick ahead.

21st minute: West kicks a penalty after a poor decision by McBride on a high tackle charge against Steamers captain Culum Retallick. Magpies 6-0.

24 min: Some good defensive play by centre Nic Evemy gives Steamers a penalty. Evemy kicks the goal. 6-3. Steamers knock-on from kickoff. Scrum penalty after a collapse to Magpies. West kicks the goal. 9-3.

30th minute: Key moment. Retallick is sent to the bin for his second high tackle under pressure - this one on halfback Chris Eaton was the correct call. Magpies spread the ball quickly from the penalty, and lock Michael Allardice scores in the corner. Magpies 14-3.

40th minute: Tackled ball penalty awarded to Steamers. From 43 metres Evemy misses.
Halftime: 14-3 Magpies and the Steamers will face the stiff breeze in the second half.
It was almost the worst possible start for the Steamers from the restart. Evemy has his poor kick charged down and winger Shannon Chase crossed in the corner. But Nemani had his jersey held in back play to give the Steamers a penalty and a lucky break.

45th minute: Retallick returns as the Steamers throw poorly to the lineout. Magpies take full toll as West slices through to score. He converts his own try. Magpies 21-3.

50th minute: Steamers roar onto attack with Nemani leading the way. The forwards rumble over the line. From the 5m scrum they lose the ball at the back of their scrum and the chance is lost.

52nd minute: Hooker Joe Royal sets the Steamers away again but not for the first time the ball is turned over with the Magpies defence stretched.

60th minute: Steamers put good phases together in possession into the wind. The move covered 80 metres and 21 phases before Hawke's Bay were allowed to steal the ball from the side of the ruck. Winger Ryan Tongia broke away to run 60 metres to score the final game breaker.

66th minute: McGuigan breaks from deep in his half, links with his loose forwards and the ball finally reaches danger man Nemani who scored by the posts. Great try Steamers. Evemy converts 26-10. West scores his second try to stretch the lead to 31-10 before the game livens up.

70th minute: Replacement Steamers prop Ziggy Fisiihoi gets the ball and makes a startling 45 metre break, showing his pace, and sets up the chance for Jesse Acton to score off the base off the scrum. Evemy converts from wide with a drop kick 31-17.

An ugly brawl breaks out with three minutes left after a tip tackle made by Nemani with help from Retallick. Despite no harm to his opponent, referee McBride get his red card out of his pocket to send off Nemani.

Tongia has time to score his second try for the Magpies to end a bad day for Bay of Plenty.

Hawke's Bay 36 (Ihaia West 2, Ryan Tongia 2, Michael Allardice, tries;
West con, 3 pens) Bay of Plenty 17 (Tino Nemani, Jesse Acton tries; Nic Evemy 2 cons, pen)