ITM Cup: Painful call gets best out of defence

Bay of Plenty Steamers player Doug Edwards (right) celebrates with teammate Jesse Acton after they won their first match of the ITM Cup season on Saturday in Rotorua. Photo / Ben Fraser

If you are near the sidelines at a Steamers match this year you might just hear the call "decade".

Steamers second five-eighth Doug Edwards said they resorted to the defensive call about a dozen times at the weekend, to help them get over the line against North Harbour.

"Ten years it took the 2000 [Bay of Plenty] team to get out of the second division so that's our call, decade.

"When things get tough we will call 'decade' and the boys sort of think back. Back then the boys went through hard times and it picks us up a bit and gives us a little bit of mana."

The Steamers' much improved defence had a big part to play in their first win of the season at the weekend, beating North Harbour 21-14.

Edwards said it was a special moment winning his first game in a Steamers jumper, especially during a match in his hometown, Rotorua.

"I'm pretty happy to get my first win in the blue and gold hoops mate, even more fitting that it is here in Rotorua," he said.

"What a fitting arena to have it here in Rotorua on Father's Day with my kids and family here, it is just awesome."

The Steamers will return to the Rotorua International Stadium this Saturday to face Auckland, where they will try to record back-to-back wins.

Edwards said it would be great to turn Rotorua into a happy hunting ground this year with a win over Auckland on Saturday.

"We have just come off a quick turn-around, so we will get a good week of training and rest [this week] and be in full force again against Auckland."

Edwards, who captained local club Whakarewarewa to the Baywide premier final this year, has started in every game for the Steamers in his debut season.

For the record

• Bay of Plenty Steamers forward Mike Kainga has already broken a try-scoring record from last season.

• The Steamers' top try-scorer last year only crossed for two tries, an honour shared by Carl Axtens, Tino Nemani and Kimami Sitauti.

• Kainga crossed for his third try of the 2014 ITM Cup season at the weekend, playing in the front row against North Harbour.

• The Steamers still have five games left this year which gives Kainga plenty of time to improve upon his try-scoring record