Rugby: Bay of Plenty triumph over challengers from 'big smoke'

A Wellington warrior shows support as his side falls to the Bay of Plenty. Photo / Getty Images

It's tempting to assume that out of an awkward situation at the start of the season, a heightened sense of resolve has settled on the Bay of Plenty team.

But new coach Sean Horan reckons "things haven't really changed too much in the last three or four weeks".

Certainly it has been an unsettling period for the union.

In that time, Bay of Plenty dumped new coach Greg Smith the week before the Air New Zealand Cup began; Horan took over on a caretaker basis with assistant coach Steve Miln; then the pair were confirmed in charge for the campaign last week and now Bay of Plenty sit top, the only team with a three from three record.

The 21-17 win over Wellington in Rotorua was based on a resounding first-half display, which included a muscular forward performance, sharp running and a fine job of organising the game plan from first five-eighths Mike Delany.

Wellington gave it a crack in the second half and benefited from a dreadful decision to award flanker Scott Fuglistaller a try as he barrelled into the lefthand corner flag. But Bay of Plenty richly deserved only their third win over Wellington in 97 years.

Horan talked last night of the trust between the squad and coaches, which has developed over time.

"Steve and myself have been involved with these guys for three years. We understand them, they understand us and there's mutual respect, trust and confidence in all parties," Horan said.

"That obviously translates on to the training pitch, and the field."

Livewire centre Cory Aporo got Bay of Plenty's two tries, charging through some ordinary Wellington defence for the first; capitalising on a charged down kick and subsequent defensive fumble from David Smith near the tryline for the second.

With Delany's steadying hand pushing the right buttons, the numbers all favoured Bay of Plenty - 14 minutes in Wellington's 22 compared with five by the visitors at the other end; only five handling errors to 13 by Wellington, all buoyed by a strong display by the pack.

"We just did the fundamentals well, then hung in to come out with a very big win," Horan said.

It's one thing for Bay of Plenty to knock over fellow provincial teams. When the teams from the big smoke come to town, it's another story.

"We get painted as one of the minnows, and when we come up against [a Super 14-based team] the guys really enjoy the challenge. That's where we want to be; it's a benchmark.

"They just want to have a crack at them. We went out with that philosophy against Wellington and achieved it," Horan said.

They'll get more opportunities in the next three weeks too.

They host Waikato next Saturday at Mt Maunganui, visit Eden Park eight days later and then play Canterbury, also at the Mount.

It will be a good test of Horan and Miln's men. As captain and No 8 Colin Bourke said after the Wellington win, he was "proud as punch" of his team.

"We worked bloody hard all week; we worked bloody hard on the pitch and to come through with this result is awesome."