The Steamers finished with a flurry of tries but it was Counties Manukau who took the 39-34 win at ECOLight Stadium.

The Steamers side started the game with a vengeance, proving frustrating for the home team yesterday.

The Steamers. here in action in their last game at Tauranga Domain, are preparing to take on Otago at the Tauranga Domain on Father's Day. Photo: Chris Callinan.

Kelly Haimona was first to get the points on the board for the Steamers after the Counties Manukau side were penalised within the first two minutes of the match.

The Steamers continued to upset the home side, causing them to create handling errors when running the ball out of their own 22.

From broken play Monty Ioane took the opportunity and scored in the corner to take the Steamers to an early eight nil lead.

Piers Francis' boot proved costly for the Steamers with two quick penalties in to draw the gap to 6-8.

The Steamers continued to press on attack and Hugh Blake barrelled through the Counties Manukau defence to score under the posts to extend their lead to 15-6.

Counties Manukau responded sharply scoring in the corner, however Francis unable to convert the Steamers took a 15-11 lead into the break.

Counties Manukau came out firing in the second half, scoring quickly from the kick off.

It was to continue to go the home sides' way, when Steamers try scorer Monty Ioane was yellow carded for a deliberate knock down. Not only a yellow card but Counties were awarded a penalty try to take their lead out to 25-15.

Making the most of Ioane in the bin, the home side continued to score several tries in quick succession to bring the score to 39-15.

It looked like that was going to be the way it would finish but with several substitutions including debutants Regan Ware and Matty Axtens and the return of Monty Ioane the game swung the Steamers way.

First James O'Reilly took it to the line and scored from a driving maul.

Then Ware was in following quick ball off the back of the scrum.

Ioane was in for his second try of the match to bring the win within reach and secure the bonus point.

It was a little too late for the Steamers with Counties Manukau taking the 39-34 victory.

Earlier in the curtain raiser, Counties Manukau Under 19's produced a solid win over Bay of Plenty Under 19's claiming a 27-13 victory.

The Steamers will return home to play Otago at the Tauranga Domain on Father's Day.

Tickets are available online for all Steamers Mitre 10 Cup home games at www.boprugby.co.nz or www.ticketmaster.co.nz.

Alternatively tickets can be purchased from the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union offices or any ticketmaster outlet for all home games.