Steamers pay price for missed chances

Steamers player Tim Bond (with ball) takes on the Canterbury defence during the ITM Cup match at the Rotorua International Stadium last night. Photo/Ben Fraser

The Bay of Plenty Steamers continued their slow start to the ITM Cup season with a big loss to Canterbury in Rotorua.

They struggled to contain Canterbury's fluent attack during last night's 48-18 loss in front of 5100 fans at the Rotorua International Stadium.

The Bay side now have a record of three losses and one win this season, placing pressure on next week's match against Wellington.

A flurry of early penalties favouring the Steamers led to the first points of the match yesterday, with former Rotorua Boys' High School player and Steamers captain Willie Ripia slotting an easy penalty.

Minutes later, Canterbury first five Tyler Bleyendaal made a break through the middle of the park before the play broke down inches away from the Bay of Plenty try line.

Open side flanker Tanerau Latimer, in his first game back for the Bay this season, made a nuisance of himself early on, getting stuck in around the ruck.

However, two penalties eventually followed some good field possession for Canterbury, who took the lead 6-3.

Bay of Plenty levelled up the scores 30 minutes into the match through the boot of Ripia.

The hosts were denied their first five-pointer of the night after a yellow card to Canterbury No8 Jordan Taufua. He was caught playing the ball deliberately from an offside position and the Steamers pushed their way over the try line in the resulting play, only to be ruled held up by the match officials.

Shortly after, Ripia missed a penalty and the Steamers also wasted some great field position.

They paid the price for their missed chances one minute later when some lazy defence and great support running culminated in Milford Keresoma scoring under the posts for Canterbury.

Before the visiting fans had a chance to sit back down on their seats the red and blacks were in again. A barnstorming run by Canterbury centre Ryan Crotty, followed by a 40m gallop to the try line, saw Canterbury take a 20-6 lead into the break.

After halftime, Bay of Plenty came out more determined and had a try disallowed minutes into the second half.

The resurgence did not last long for the home side, with Canterbury marching up the field to set up their third try.

Canterbury's George Whitelock got in on the action finishing off some short and sharp passing close to the posts.

Bay of Plenty managed to pull themselves together after the try, gaining some good field possession off the back of their forwards.

After peppering the Canterbury line for a number of phases the Bay finally unleashed centre Kenny Lynn, who scored out wide on the right.

Any suggestions of a Bay of Plenty comeback were killed off by Canterbury speedster Keresoma, who found a hole 20m out from the Steamers' line before racing in to score his second.

To their credit the Steamers continued to fight, scoring shortly after with a nice play down the short side, finished off by No8 Carl Axtens.

Canterbury had the last say however, finishing off two long distance tries through George Whitelock and substitute Rob Thompson.

Scorers

Bay of Plenty Steamers 18 (Lynn, Axtens tries; Ripia 2 pen, 1 con) Canterbury 48 (Keresoma 2, Whitelock 2, Crotty, Thompson tries; Bleyendaal 2 pen, 5 con, Mo'unga 1 con). HT: 6-20.