Bay of Plenty pile on 57 unanswered-points in Mitre 10 Cup demolition of Southland

  • 21/09/2017

Southland's miserable Mitre 10 Cup rugby season has dipped to a new low after Bay of Plenty steamrolled the Stags 57-0, in Rotorua.

Their hopes weren't helped when former All Blacks loose forward Elliot Dixon was sent-off for a second yellow card offence.

Dixon's first indiscretion was in the seventh minute, and the Steamers racked-up 14-points in that 10-minute period. 

There was a good spell for Southland midway through the first half, buit the home side's defence proved impregnable.

Bay of Plenty eventually took a 24-0 lead into halftime.

Things went from bad to worse for Southland four minutes into the second stanza, when Dixon was marched for a second yellow after a dangerous high tackle on halfback Richard Judd.

From there it was game over as Bay of Plenty scored five second half tries to cap off the 57-0 win, the same winning margin as the All Blacks enjoyed over the Springboks at North Harbour last weekend.

The bonus-point win elevates the Steamers into the Championship top four. 

They host Counties-Manukau in a crucial crossover clash in Tauranga on Sunday.

Southland remain without a competition point and also face a short turnaround before facing the resurgent Tasman Makos in Nelson on Sunday.

Newshub.