Steamers off the bottom

Key win: Bay of Plenty

Bay of Plenty moved off the bottom of the ITM Cup ladder on Sunday after recording a 31-19 bonus-point victory over Northland in Mount Maunganui.

The win lifted the Steamers above Hawke's Bay and Waikato at the foot of 2012's Premiership standings with two games left of the season.

Bay of Plenty held a slender 10-7 half-time lead but then put in an impressive performance going against the strong wind in the final 40 minutes.

They crossed for three tries after the turnaround, adding to Dan Goodwin's first-half effort, as Carl Axtens and Greg Pleasants-Tate went over while lock forward Goodwin grabbed his brace.

The scorers:

For Bay of Plenty:
Tries: Goodwin 2, Axtens, Pleasants-Tate
Con: Noakes
Pen: Noakes 4

For Northland:
Tries: Wright 2, Autagavaia
Con: Moeke

Bay Of Plenty: 15 Lance MacDonald, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Jack Wilson, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Lewis Hancock, 8 Carl Axtens, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Luke Braid, 5 Leon Power, 4 Dan Goodwin, 3 Tristan Moran, 2 John Pareanga, 1 Greg Pleasants-Tate.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Mike Kainga, 18 Keepa Mewett, 19 Jesse Acton, 20 Nick McCashin, 21 Simon Rolleston, 22 Mafi Kefu.

Northland: 15 Eddie Paea, 14 Dan Caprice, 13 Fa'atoina Autagavaia, 12 Rene Ranger (c),11 Mateo Malupo, 10. Ash Moeke,9. Samisoni Fisilau, 8. William Whetton,7 Dan Pryor, 6 Jack Ram, 5 David Morgan, 4 Hale T-Pole, 3 Scott Vessey, 2 Ross Wright, 1 Justin Davies,
Replacements: 16 David Hall, 17 Peni Kaufusi, 18 Jack Whetton, 19 Daniel Faleafa, 20 Rhyan Caine, 21 Orene Ai'i, 22 Matt Wright.

Referee: Richard Kelly