Li nets record-equalling five tries as Taranaki rest starters

Winger Tevita Li scorched his way to five tries as North Harbour thumped leaders Taranaki in the final roundrobin match of rugby’s Mitre 10 Cup Premiership yesterday.

Li tied an NPC record, and was the first player to score five tries in a toplevel game since Sitiveni Sivivatu for Waikato in 2004.

With a semifinal spot already assured, Taranaki coach Colin Cooper rested his entire starting 15 from 64 33 added a third at the 18-minute mark, then Li crossed for his second.

The visitors finally responded in the 26th minute, Declan O’Donnell hitting the inside ball at pace to slice through. Li completed his hat-trick soon after with an intercept and Harbour looked comfortable at 33-7 ahead with halftime looming. But Taranaki crossed twice in five minutes, through prop Jared Proffit off a Charlie Ngatai break, then via Ciarahn Matoe from winger Jackson Ormond’s scything run down the left.

Ahead 33-19 at halftime, Harbour extended their lead 10 minutes after the restart, with winger Matt Duffie finishing out wide and Li adding his fourth before skipper James Parsons touched down from a lineout drive.

Taranaki stayed in touch, with flanker Adrian Wyrill scoring from a pick and go and Matoe grabbing a second with 10 minutes remaining.

But Harbour finished strongly, with Matt Vaega scoring from an intercept and Li capping a superb game with his fifth on fulltime.

(Tevita Li 5, Bryn Hall, Shaun Stevenson, Matt Duffie, James Parsons, Matt Vaega tries; Ben Volavola 5 cons, Todd Doolan 2 cons)

(Ciarahn Matoe 2, Declan O’Donnell, Jared Proffit, Adrian Wyrill tries; Matoe 4 cons). Halftime: 33-19.

North Harbour 64 Taranaki 33