Steamers smoke Northland

Bay of Plenty placed their coaching crisis on the back burner and recovered from an ill-disciplined first half to beat Northland 19-14 in their Air NZ Cup rugby clash at Rotorua tonight.

Bay of Plenty, who started their campaign with head coach Greg Smith in exile and subject to an employment review, piled on 16 unanswered points after the break as first five-eighth Mike Delany utilised a useful breeze and embossed his racking punts with a sound goalkicking display.

The Steamers were virtually unrecognisable after the break and settled in to lay siege to the Northland line for the first six minutes of the half - an early sign of the momentum shift.

Initially Bay of Plenty had to settle for a Delany penalty to chip into a 3-14 halftime deficit in the 50th minute, but soon after the home side's transformation was rewarded again when flanker Luke Braid ended an 80-metre break out despite fullback Zar Lawrence appearing suspiciously offside when Northland failed to handle a James Hona chip ahead.

Delany then stepped up to give Bay of Plenty the lead on the hour and three minutes later the pivot goaled another gift three-pointer when prop Bronson Murray paid for Northland's persistent infringing with a yellow card.

Delany also used the punt and a favourable breeze to good effect, reeling off yards of territory while Northland's wonky lineout continued to malfunction despite the substitution of starting hooker Tim Dow.

Northland were barely able to launch any concerted attacks after enjoying a dominant opening spell, Delany's counterpart Lachie Munro missed their only genuine opportunity when a 65th minute penalty floated wide.

Northland's steady deterioration mirrored the Bay's first half as a shaky lineout continued to undermine their progress.

Bay of Plenty pilfered six Northland throws in the opening 40 while Dow's indecision - and resulting free kick when Northland were hot on attack - meant a potentially decisive try-scoring opportunity went begging.

Northland started impressively when wing Troy Woodman - one of their 12 debutants - was put over in the right hand corner after Lawrence muffed a Munro bomb in the eighth minute.

Munro also profited from Bay of Plenty's poor discipline as referee Josh Noonan awarded the visitors nine first half penalties - three of which were kickable for the former Auckland playmaker.

Bay of Plenty had to be content with a solitary penalty by Delany in the 12th minute before a pep talk from caretaker coach's Steve Miln and Shaun Horan had the desired effect.

 Bay of Plenty 19 (Luke Braid try; Mike Delany 4 pen con) Northland 14 (Troy Woodman try; Lachie Munro 3 pen) Halftime: 3-14

- NZPA