Wellington loom as big threat to Tasman

Wellington have fired a warning shot to the rest of the Mitre 10 Premiership with their commanding 34-15 win over Auckland at Eden Park yesterday.

The boot of first-five Jackson Garden-Bachop controlled the game, with the Wellington backline having a field day as they got the better of Auckland in perfect conditions.

It was close heading into halftime, with both teams claiming two tries — a Harry Plummer penalty kick on the stroke of the break giving the hosts a slim one-point lead.

However, Wellington came out the better side as they marched Auckland off the field with a commanding performance. Garden-Bachop was strong as he constantly turned the Auckland side around with his boot, with a perfect crossfield kick inside the 22m line finding the hands of Wes Goosen and led to a wonderful try for Mateaki Kafatolu.

The win lifts Wellington to outright second, six points clear of Canterbury, while Auckland are left vulnerable in fourth place on 16 points, heading into their clash against tabletoppers Tasman on Friday night.

In the Championship, a 14-man Bay of Plenty still managed to see off Northland in Whangarei, running out winners 46-22.

The Bay were reduced to 14 men after Fa’asiu Fuatai was sent off with 20 minutes remaining after connecting his shoulder to the head of Northland’s Renata RobertsTenana.

The win puts the Bay in outright second spot and sets up a top of the table clash against Hawke’s Bay on Saturday. For Northland, the loss leaves them last, after Southland ended their three-year losing streak last weekend.