The little Bay of Plenty first five-eighths pulled of a match winning tackle on danger Northland wing Fetu'u Vainikolo to lift his side to a win in Whangarei last night.
Backed by a massive 14,000 crowd _ responding to a call toarms by a union cut from the top division _ the home side piled on the late pressure.
It was a wild and woolly thriller in which Bay of Plenty wing Lance MacDonald's early second half try, after a Tanerau Latimer break, proved crucial.
The win gave Bay of Plenty a four-from-four start to the season, but staunch defence on their line was needed at the end to secure it.
Right on the death, replacement Northland prop Tony Coughlan hurled himself at the line but was held up and Bay of Plenty smuggled the ball and hoofed it to safety with the crowd reaching full voice in a reminder of some of Northland's glory days.
Northland hung on grimly in the latter stages of the first half to keep the Steamers lead to just 8-7 at the break. A couple of defensive horrors had gifted each side a try in the spell.
A botched Bay of Plenty move near their line, with Nigel Hunt spilling the ball, handed David Holwell a try while lost Northland lineout possession allowed prop Joe McGougan to drive over.
Bay of Plenty 15 (J. McGougan, L. MacDonald tries; M. Delany con, pen)
