The Bay of Plenty Steamers finished their ITM Cup season with a flourish defeating Southland in Invercargill.

Chris Noakes added nine points to his season tally on Sunday.

Steamers ace kicker Chris Noakes scored the first points of the match on Sunday with a penalty goal in the opening spell.

Noakes had a hand in the Steamers first try when he kicked the ball through from thirty metres out, with Phil Burleigh touching the ball down for the first try of the match.

The Steamers led 15-7 at the halftime break after a backline move was finished off by Bay winger Ben Smith who grabbed the visitor's second touchdown.

A second try to Phil Burleigh and the fourth touchdown of the match awarded to Sam Cane resulted in the Steamers finishing the game with a 29-17 victory.

Chris Noakes added to his season tally with nine points from three conversions and a penalty goal.

The Steamers can be pleased with their 2011 ITM Cup Premiership campaign, where they finished in third equal place with Taranaki.

They were just two points behind Waikato and Canterbury which will battle out the Premiership final next weekend.

The victory against Southland gave the Steamers a top four finish for just the third time since Bay of Plenty won the inaugural NPC in 1976.

Result

BOP Steamers 29 (Phil Burleigh 2, Ben Smith, Sam Canes tries; Chris Noakes 3 con pen) Southland 17