Taranaki wallop the Mooloos
The gap between the top four and the bottom three has widened after Taranaki dealt fifth-placed Waikato a 41-0 hammering at Yarrow Stadium on Friday night.
Eight points now separate the two teams on the national provincial championship’s Premiership table, with Waikato looking at long odds to narrow it and make the playoffs.
It’s been 15 years since Taranaki beat Waikato in New Plymouth but they were clearly the better side after a first half-hour that was far more dour than delightful.
For the majority of the first half it appeared the game was going to follow the pattern of so many of Taranaki’s matches in 2015 as both sides struggled to penetrate the suffocating defence. Kicking became preferred to building phases and waiting for an opening.
It meant try scoring opportunities were rare. Waikato created the first and it did appear that wing Regan Ware had crossed after Kurt Baker had coughed the ball up but television match official Rob Lord ruled Whetu Douglas had knocked on a play earlier.
It appeared a tough call with the ball coming into contact with Douglas’ knee more than his hand.
Although their 20-0 half-time lead appeared more than they deserved, Taranaki at least showed a little more attacking initiative than their opponents, who struggled to build any pressure with the wind at their backs.
They were not helped by the late withdrawal of co-captain Brad Weber, with replacement Levien Harrison not offering the same sort of danger around the fringes of the ruck.
Scorers: Taranaki 41 (Charlie Ngatai, Seta Tamanivalu, Angus Ta’avao, Sean Wainui, Hika Elliot tries; Codey Rei 4 con, 2 pen, Marty McKenzie) Waikato 0. HT: 20-0.