FULL-TIME UPDATE 9.20PM: The Bay of Plenty Steamers have beaten the Hawke's Bay Magpies in the final of the Mitre 10 Cup.

It was a close game, with the BOP team winning by five points. The final score being 12-7 to the Bay of Plenty Steamers.

The second-half of the match saw Hollinshead kick a penalty, taking the Steamers out to a 9-0 lead.

In the 48th minutes, another penalty kick saw the Steamers' lead edge out to 12.

The Magpies tried to make a come back at the 57th minute of the game, with a converted try taking them out to seven points.

But it wasn't enough to beat the home team, who are now the Mitre 10 Cup champions.

This means the Steamers will now go up to the first division next year.

HALF-TIME UPDATE: The Bay of Plenty Steamers will head into the second half of the Mitre 10 Cup final with a six point lead over the Hawke's Bay Magpies.

The Magpies had one try disallowed and no other tries were scored in the first half of the game, which is being played at Rotorua International Stadium.

The Steamers started the the game with a penalty kick, after the Magpies were penalised for hands in the ruck within the first five minutes of the game.

At minute 27 of the game, the BOP missed a penalty kick.

But another penaltty kick ended the first half of the game with six point to zero lead to the Bay of Plenty Steamers.

EARLIER:

The Bay of Plenty Steamers have kicked off the first half of the Mitre 10 Cup final at Rotorua International Stadium.

Within the first few minutes of the game, the Magpies were penlised for hands in the ruck.

Hollinshead attempted goal five mninutes in the first half and Stearmers now lead 3-0 in a game that is promising to be a "titanic" battle between the two teams.

Earlier today, Steamers coach Clayton McMillan says he was expecting a titanic match against Hawke's Bay at Rotorua International Stadium tonight.

Steamers lock Alex Ansley is playing his 100^th Mitre 10 Cup game, a monumental achievement, McMillan says.

'Alex has had a long history at Tasman and probably this time last year, he didn't see himself getting to 100 games, and was quite prepared to hang up the boots.

'But we are grateful he had a change of heart. He's made a huge contribution to our campaign this year, he's just a wily old customer.

'If you watch him during a game, you see his true value and our guys have learnt a lot from him. To play 100 games is a great achievement.”

Another Steamer reaching a special milestone is Jason Robertson, who is playing his blazer game (15) when he takes to the field.

The Steamers secured themselves the home advantage when they beat Manawatu last week.

This is the first time they have played on home turf in the first time in the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union's 108-year history.

Last week's game was free entry for spectators with the funds raised to benefit junior and teenage players.

"One project the profits will support, is a specially designed ball gifted to every boy and girl who plays for a club or school in 2020. This will equate to about 11,000 balls given out to our community," says BOPRU CEO Mike Rogers.