Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Sideline Sid's faith in the Steamers fans to support 'Our Team” through thick and thin was restored on Tuesday night – when a large band of passionate Steamers fans dressed in Blue and Gold, descended on Baypark Stadium at the Mount as their team took on defending ITM Cup champions Canterbury.

After four consecutive ITM Cup losses, Sidline Sid had concerns that the Steamers faithful fan base would fall away. However they came in there thousands to watch their beloved team take on the Cantabs.

While the visitors scored first with a penalty goal after just three minutes – the men in the Blue and Gold uniform had Canterbury shell-shocked, when they posted 26 unanswered points to take a 29-3 lead into the half time break.

Both Bay tries testified to the Steamers ability to turn mistakes and defence into attack and points. The first came after just seven minutes, when the Bay boys side ran the ball from deep in their defensive territory with a series of passes, before Steamers fullback Toby Arnold finished off the move to touch the ball down.

The second Steamers try came minutes later, when a Canterbury mistake resulted in the ball being turned over 40 metres from the line, with Steamers skipper Saint Colin Bourke finishing under the posts.

However, the Cantabs quickly showed in the second spell, why they are ranked as the best rugby province in the country with a storming comeback. The Canterbury bonus point fourth try came late in the match, with the Steamers left clinging to a one-point lead. However right on full time Chris Noakes calmly slotted his second penalty of the second half, to result in the Steamers posting a 35-31 victory.

The Steamers hero on the night was first five Chris Noakes, who kicked 25 points from six penalties, two conversions and a rare dropped goal. While a newcomer to the Bay this season, he is showing all the qualities and attributes to become a long term Steamer.

With (potentially) just one ITM match remaining, the Bay side is in an apparelled situation. They remain with an outside chance of making the top two that will fight out the Premiership final - and still remain close to the relegation zone.

The safest scenario for the Steamers is for Southland to lose the Ranfurly Shield to Taranaki tonight - which however would deny the Bay side a Shield challenge on Sunday. A Southland loss on Wednesday night, would put the Stags seven points behind the Steamers and ensure that the Bay side wont be relegated.

However if Southland retain the Shield, it will be on for young and old when Bay of Plenty play their last ITM Cup game of the current season, in the deep south on Sunday afternoon.

With the Shield at stake in Invercargill, it will be a winner take all for the right to hold the Log of Wood during the summer break. A Steamers loss would see the ITM Cup rulebook brought out to decide who is relegated, if Wellington beat North Harbour and snatch a bonus point.

Seeya at the Game