Steamers start campaign on a roll

By CHRIS RATTUE


Bay of Plenty 22 North Harbour 16


The Ranfurly Shield season has suddenly taken some of rugby's centre stage.

Bay of Plenty's shock win over North Harbour yesterday has put the famous old Log o' Wood into the limelight.

The Steamers' victory at Mt Maunganui and Canterbury's struggles in Whangarei are a case of perfect timing for the rugby code.

Canterbury will remain favourites, but a Bay of Plenty victory on Sunday is no longer pure fantasy. Just as the test season has ended, unfancied Bay of Plenty's bid to win the Ranfurly Shield for the first time has taken on a more serious note.

All Blacks coach John Mitchell confirmed that none of the 22 players involved in the Bledisloe Cup victory at Eden Park would be available for NPC games this week.

This means Canterbury, who edged out Northland 30-26 after being outscored four tries to two, cannot be bolstered from above.

Bay of Plenty's victory in the Air New Zealand-sponsored NPC provided a fantastic start to their 2003 campaign at their new stadium, where the crowd included Canterbury coach Aussie McLean.

Last year, they scored just one victory, over Southland in Tauranga, on the way to a promotion-relegation date with Hawkes Bay.

Yesterday, the Steamers were helped by a naive performance from North Harbour, rated as strong semifinal contenders in the World Cup year. North Harbour held the lineout advantage but surprisingly, considering their experienced pack, were badly beaten at scrum time. But it was risky individualism that cost North Harbour in tricky weather.

Captain Ron Cribb said: "At this level you should understand how to hold the ball and retain possession. Those basic skills let us down. Their enthusiasm outweighed ours."

North Harbour scored the first try when fullback Tusi Pisi set up lock Troy Flavell. A 33rd-minute try to Steamers hooker Aleki Lutui, after a burst in traffic from halfback Kevin Senio, gave the home side a 16-10 advantage.

Glen Jackson, who ran the show well for the Steamers and goaled six from seven, landed a late first-half penalty to take the score to 19-10.

North Harbour's organisation and ball retention never improved, as Jackson and Luke McAlister traded penalties in the second spell.

Steamers coach Vern Cotter claimed his side had been "lucky in a seesaw encounter".

On the Ranfurly Shield challenge, Cotter said: "I'm sure Canterbury will bounce back from what I think they will regard as an unsatisfactory result for them.

"They are a class team who will be very different after preparing to defend a Ranfurly Shield very precious to them. Having their coach at our game shows how seriously they are taking it."