Fast starting Bay running out of steam

Once the darlings of the ITM Cup premiership after a four-game gallop through the competition's openings rounds, Bay of Plenty now look destined for the chop, continuing their slide out of contention for the final after another lacklustre loss - this time to Auckland 25-16 at Eden Park on Saturday.

The Steamers have now lost four matches in a row after winning their first four games of the season and are in significant danger of being relegated to the championship division next year - a fate that seemed nigh on impossible two weeks ago.

Auckland scored three tries to one, but trailed 13-10 at the break before taking control in the second half to retain the John Drake Boot and boost their chances of making the finals.

Steamers skipper Colin Bourke said it was time for individuals to stand up and take accountability for the team's horror slump.

Bourke said the losing streak had been frustratingly tough on the team.

"It's the same old story. Simple mistakes letting us down.

"We definitely have the team but we're just not putting it on the paddock at the moment and that is the frustrating thing," he said.

"The guys all know that."

The Steamers have struggled this season in the scrums and the Auckland game produced the same old tune, with Bay either being pushed off their ball or penalised for an infringement at the set piece.

Bourke said it was time now for individuals to start stepping up.

"In the lineouts and scrums we're just not good enough at the moment and need to take a serious look at ourselves in terms of individually and come together collectively and fix it because we can't keep going the way we are.

"We are definitely making it hard on ourselves in certain aspects of the game, the set piece being a huge one ... without that we're on the back foot straight away.

"We're getting penalised at set piece, we're not nailing our lineouts - just simple things, basic stuff we should be nailing."

There were glimpses of how dangerous the Steamers can be.

At one stage a scything run by centre Phil Burleigh almost lead to a try all until Bourke knocked on as the tryline beckoned.

Wing Joe Rokocoko, playing his last game on Eden Park before leaving for French club Bayonne, was busy all afternoon and featured twice in the move that led to centre Hadleigh Parkes opening the scoring in the sixth minute.

Parkes drove through a ruck close to the line for a try that was converted and moments later wing Brent Ward had a try ruled out for a forward pass.

The Steamers slotted a penalty to get on the board but the home side continued to dominate and should have had more points to show for their ascendancy.

The Steamers made the blue and whites pay for their inability to convert pressure into points to get on level terms before the break when Bourke's quick tap from five metres out was shifted to fellow loose forward Luke Braid who went over next to the posts.

After a strong run from Rokocoko, New Zealand under-20 lock Steven Luatua, gave the home side the lead with a try after a bulldozing run that left four would-be tacklers in his wake.

Replacement wing George Moala then showed impressive pace to race 60 metres upfield before fullback Dave Thomas swooped on the loose ball to dot down behind the posts.

The subsequent conversion ensured the Steamers would leave Auckland empty-handed and still searching for a way to get their campaign back on track.

Bourke said the team were dangerous when they could string phases together.

"That's when we're at our best, when we're holding the ball and going forward."

"We make individual errors or play a little bit individually and have a crack, where as it might be on just to move it or play a little bit smarter," he said.

With only two games remaining - Canterbury at Baypark Stadium tomorrow and a potential Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland on Sunday - was adamant the team would remain positive and get back to what worked for them at the start of the season.

"(We'll) bin the last four games because we are definitely good enough to win the next two if we put our minds to it and nail those little things. By no means are we going to throw the towel in yet."

Kickoff against Canterbury tomorrow night had been moved back to 8.05pm because of apparent concerns over traffic congestion with a 6.05pm kickoff.