It was a match that was supposed to be all about combinations, preparing for a great start to the ITM Cup campaign rather than focussing on getting one over the opposition.
To get a win over the Manawatu Turbos yesterday was a bonus that even coach Sean Horan couldn't stop beaming about.
The Steamers rolled out a 33-19 victory away at Palmerston North on a day when the Manawatu wind could have dominated. As it was the 40 minutes when the gusts were in the home side's favour was the first half and the Steamers held them back to a 7-5 half-time lead.
The Steamers used the wind to their own advantage and despite it looking to upset any chance of kicks finding their destination, only one conversion went off target.
"I'm really pleased," an elated Horan said last night.
"With the disappointment on Tuesday [at Hawke's Bay] the boys reacted well to that loss. [Manawatu] had the lead and the wind in the first half but we were pretty happy with the half-time score.
"We achieved quite a bit. We were quite clinical in certain areas, quite accurate and that's what we were after. At the end of the day the performance outweighs the result. To perform we had to do some very good things."
The Steamers put together the combinations this week's training camp has focussed on and the lessons they have been learning were transferred to the playing field. Horan accepts they are still a long way from where they want to be but he's confident that come July 17 when the season starts they can put on their A game.
"Piece by piece we're putting it together."
Manawatu took an early lead from what Horan called a soft try. Jamie Nutbrown pulled one back and the scores remained at 7-5 for the remaining 15 minutes of the first half.
Culum Retallick hit back early for the Steamers but Aaron Smith replied with a charge down. Any idea that Manawatu could get back in the lead were soon dismissed by captain Colin Bourke. Tries from Tristan Moran and shortlisted IRB junior player of the year Sam Cane followed.
Manawatu scored a last minute consolation try.
The Steamers came out on top in the match statistics with 65 per cent of possession and 66 per cent of territory. They also won 15 line outs and 14 penalties conceded two fewer turnovers.
"Our tries were very well built," Horan said.
"Once again we applied pressure through hard work. We held on to it for a few phases, [the tries] weren't due to an individual's brilliance. It was a collective effort."
Manawatu 19 (Waisea Qiokata, Aaron Smith, Casey Stone, tries; Dan Kelly con; Aaron Cruden con) Bay of Plenty Steamers 33 (Jamie Nutbrown, Culum Retallick, Colin Bourke, Tristan Moran, Sam Cane tries; Chris Noakes 3, Dan Waenga con) HT 7-5.
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