BOP revive their season

for his personal reward for a hard-working day. His fifth minute try resulted after a midfield bust by flanker Tom Chamberlain deep into the Bay of Plenty 22m area.

The ball was won and McAlister lofted a league-like chip to the corner where replacement wing Nafi Tuitavake batted the ball down for fast-following Parsons to score. Harris landed the conversion to get the game back to 20-19.

But in another example of the constantly changing fortunes in the game, Bay stormed back onto attack and dragged in the North Harbour defence for No.8 Colin Bourke to feed Masaga into space for the try.

Harris cut the margin back to three with a penalty goal in the 51st minute.

Masaga was in eight minutes later after halfback Taniela Moa opted to take a tap penalty close to the line. The ruck was set up and then moved to the right where Masaga went through for Delany to add the conversion.

Bay put the result beyond doubt in the 65th minute when capitalising on a midfield turnover. Masaga received the ball on the flank and kicked ahead. Burleigh then speculated a kick infield and Masaga put his speed to use to complete his hat-trick of tries.

Reward in the shape of a four-try bonus point came in the 77th minute for North Harbour when Tuitavake burst through tacklers to score a well-taken try.

Scorers:

Bay of Plenty 39
Tries: Burleigh, Braid, MacDonald, Masaga 3
Con: Delany 3
Pen: Delany

North Harbour 29
Tries: Tarrant, Boric, Parsons, Tuitavake
Con: McAlister, Harris 2
Pen: Harris
HT: 20-12