The SIT Zero Fees Southland Stags have come desperately close to their first win of 2018.

With 13 minutes left on the clock, captain James Wilson landed a wide-angled penalty to give the home team a 22-19 lead.

However, a late try to Steamers lock Kane Le’aupepe broke the hearts of the Stags fans who had turned out at Rugby Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

“It was disappointing, it was within our grasp, but credit to Bay of Plenty,” Wilson said.

“We gave away far too many penalties, it’s as simple as that.”

Southland’s defence looked good early on, but they got skinned on the blindside twice by the Steamers with the visitors taking a 12-nil lead.

Bay of Plenty were putting plenty of pressure on Southland at scrumtime and were enjoying all sorts of possession dominance.

Then, with almost their first attacking raid of the game, Tony Lamborn freed an arm on the outside and sent Lewis Ormond in for a well taken try to get the Stags back into the running.

Tighthead prop Morgan Mitchell, who had a great game, gave Southland further heart when he burrowed over for his third try of the season to limit the damage to 19-12 at halftime.

The Stags needed to be the first team to score after the break, and they were.

Isaac Te Tamaki, who has looked dangerous all season, ran a flyer on the outside to leave his Steamers opposite grasping at thin air.

With Wilson adding the conversion and then a timely penalty, Southland had created their best chance of a victory under coach Dave Hewett.

Even after Le’aupepe’s try put the Steamers ahead again, there was hope for Southland supporters, with the Stags holding on to the ball deep into injury time and forcing their way into the Bay of Plenty 22m for a final attacking raid.

However, the lack of discipline which had plagued Southland for much of the game again cost them as Bay of Plenty closed out the game.

Along with tryscorers Mitchell and Te Tamaki, Southland made good ground through the ball-running ability of Manaaki Selby-Rickit, while Phil Halder put in yet another grinding shift from the side of the scrum.

The Stags will now regroup for the remainder of their storm week, including Wednesday night’s home game against Auckland.

BOP 26 (Bailey Simonssen, Tom Crozier, Fa’asiu Fuatai, Kane Le’aupepe tries; Kaleb Trask 2 con, Luke Campbell con)

Stags 22 (Lewis Ormond, Morgan Mitchell, Isaac Te Tamaki tries; James Wilson 2 con, pen)

HT: 19-12

Article added: Sunday 07 October 2018