Rugby: Young Steamers show talent aplenty

Winger Mason Walker is one of the stars of the high performing Bay of Plenty Development team. Photo / Rick Moran

The best indication of the relative strength of any sporting organisation is not just the flagship first team, but the next tier of players below that.

What depth there is to cover injuries, or take over the first team mantle when stars move on, is vital for a union like Bay of Plenty.

This season so far has been a revelation for the talent bubbling under the surface, as evidenced by the boys and girls rep team performances from Under-13 to Under-18 levels.

But the standout result so far has been the Bay of Plenty Development team's 35-13 thumping of their Auckland counterparts at Western Springs last weekend.

It was the first win over Auckland by the Bay's second team since 2008.

Auckland fielded five players from their ITM Cup wider squad, including the highly rated trio of No8 Matt Matich, halfback Dwayne Polataivao and first-five Calvary Fonoti.

They expected to steam-roll the Bay boys at the home of Ponsonby rugby but the opposite happened, despite Jeffries having no players from the Steamers squad.

"We didn't just beat them, we comprehensively smashed them, which is really pleasing," he said.

"But the way, we had beaten North Harbour the week before so there was no reason why they couldn't go out and do again. And they did."

Jeffries has plenty of fire power at his disposal with Mason Walker and Jess Dodunski a constant threat to Auckland's defence.

"They have been away and have made a big difference. They are not very big, but quick. Mason was marking a Jonah Lomu-type guy (Joe Ravouvou), who was huge, and he smashed him. It was good for Mason and good for his development."

The forwards performance against a bigger Auckland pack laid the platform to allow the inside backs of Jonty Wood and Matty Coles to set Walker and Co away.

"Flanker Matty Axtens came back from injury after a few months off and was outstanding," Jeffries said. "Eru Wano-Smith puts his body on the line every week and it got to the point where these big Auckland forwards were shying away from him, as they knew there was a collision coming.

"Beau Williams is back playing well, but maybe the best player week-in and week-out is Lars Morrice. Flanker Dan Crowther and captain and hooker Vyron Smith have been in great form."

-Bay of Plenty Development face North Harbour Development at Greerton Park on Saturday at 2pm, with the Steamers taking on Northland in Whangarei tomorrow at 7.35pm.