Rugby: Taranaki down Bay in battle in rain

Torrential rain and a poor kick and chase game gave Bay of Plenty Steamers a 22-12 loss to Taranaki in their pre-season opener yesterday.
But it wasn't all doom and gloom for the almost 2000 Bay supporters who went along to watch the tough tussle between the two provinces at Moore Park in Katikati.
A shining ray of light was Steamers first five-eighth debutant Chris Noakes. The 25-year-old, who previously played his rugby in Otago, was drafted into the team to fill the hole left by former All Black and Steamers first-five Mike Delany, who will take up an overseas contract.
Noakes didn't do any harm to his chances of an ITM Cup start.
Despite a fair dumping of rain prior and during the first 40 minutes, the crowd were given an exhibition of running wet weather rugby by both sides.
It was a tough encounter early with neither side looking to kick away possession.
Noakes kept the ball close to his forward pack in the initial encounters against Taranaki, drawing in the visitors' backline and opening up gaps just wide of the ruck, which the classy first-five exploited with slick passes to the likes of Dan Waenga and Jason Hona to run on to. Although the Steamers made a number of telling breaks, the home side couldn't finish them off with either the final pass going down or Taranaki's covering defence managing to hold them out.
It was Taranaki who put the first points on the board in the 10th minute after being camped down in the Bay's 22 for several phases. Taranaki No8 Ben Souness found himself in some open space 8m from the Bay line and simply slid over for the first of Taranaki's two unconverted tries.
Bay of Plenty responded four minutes later from a lineout and a couple of passes to give right winger Lance MacDonald the chance to dart down the sideline. The try was converted by Noakes.
The home side did struggle at times with their kick and chase game and were punished for it, when Taranaki fullback Scott Ireland caught a ball on the left hand side of the field, just outside his 22m line. Noticing the Bay hadn't come up in a straight line he ran it back to the halfway passed to left wing Frazier Climo who grubber kicked it to the Bay's right hand corner, for his fellow winger Jackson Ormond to pounce on.
Just before halftime Bay of Plenty were penalised for a high tackle just outside their 22 and the penalty was converted by Climo for the visitors to go into the break 13-7 up.
The second half began with the sun finally making an appearance be it ever so briefly. It appeared Bay of Plenty coach Sean Horan had asked his team to look for better field position.
The plan was sound however both Noakes and halfback Lewis Hancock struggled to find space giving Taranaki the chance to bring the ball back and put the Bay side under pressure, which lead to two penalties which Climo nailed.
When the home side did manage to place a well directed kick deep into Taranaki's half and applied pressure and strung together some phase play, they were rewarded with a well deserved forwards try by replacement lock Dan Goodwin, which went unconverted.
With the score at 19-12 to the visitors the game was still within either side's grasp and it appeared Steamers winger Sikeli Bola had grasped it with both hands, thanks to an intercept pass inside his 22. The speedster sprinted the 80m to touch down only to be called back to be penalised for off-side.
Taranaki's Mark Davis managed to slot the kick and the game ended 22-12.
Horan said he was pleased with the way the team played despite the conditions and was especially happy with how Noakes directed the team.
"For [Noakes] it's a new experience and new combination ... He did some very good things, tactically he's good - probably a couple of things, a couple of decision making he probably didn't do that overly well but given the conditions I was pretty pleased."
Bay of Plenty play Taranaki again on Wednesday in Inglewood, kickoff 2pm.
Result: Bay of Plenty 12 (Lance MacDonald, Dan Goodwin tries; Chris Noakes con) Taranaki 22 (Ben Souness, Jackson Ormond tries; Frazier Climo 3 pens Mark Davis 1 pen) Halftime: 7-13