New recruit Masaga runs in hat-trick for Bay Steamers
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
THREE tries to Lelia Masaga and the return of mercurial first-five Mike Delany were highlights of the Bay of Plenty Steamers 39-29 ITM Cup victory against North Harbour on Sunday.
From the opening whistle Delaney exerted his presence in front of several thousand passionate and vocal Steamers’ rugby fans at Rotorua International Stadium, directing backline play and pushing the ball forward with probing kicks.
The first points of the match came after 15 minutes when Phil Burleigh touched down the first of six Steamers’ tries.
Ten minutes later Luke Braid grabbed the second, with Burleigh finishing off a break by Brett Mather that produced a 20-12 Steamers lead at halftime.
While North Harbour got back into the match after the break and clawed to within one point of the home side, the Steamers then unleashed Lelia Masaga.
The Steamers’ new recruit was on fire in the second half, running the opposition ragged on his way to scoring three tries.
In spite of a fourth try to the visitors late in the second half this spell, too, belonged to the Steamers, who produced a myriad attacking runs.
The whole team played creditably, but Luke Braid and Tanerau Latimer showed real enthusiasm from the sides of the scrum.
The most pleasing part of the Steamers’ return to winning form was the way it was achieved.
After absorbing plenty of North Harbour pressure in the opening five minutes of the second half, they cut loose to run in three tries.
Attention now turns to one of the big challenges of the 2010 ITM Cup season.
On Friday night the Bay play Canterbury in Christchurch – always a big ask.
However, memories of losing the Ranfurly Shield to Canterbury in 2004 will be a powerful motivator.