Rugby: Taniwha can't find mojo

Northland midfielder Warren Dunn shows his disappointment after Wellington score a try.

If Northland were in need of a new theme song, Billie Holiday's Gloomy Sunday might just be the appropriate tune to subdue the hangover of their 29-0 ITM Cup round three loss to the Wellington Lions.

Returning home yesterday with empty hands once again, the dejected Taniwha outfit now face a difficult task if they are to find the winning track for their 2015 mix tape.

"It was a bit disappointing, particularly at the start. It was the third time in a row that we've started poorly," head coach Richie Harris said.

Apart from a good patch of play before halftime and a lift in effort midway through the second half, Northland struggled for flow and consistency throughout the Wellington encounter.

"The disappointing thing was their try right after halftime off the kickoff, it was a real body blow that one," Harris said.

"Some of the set pieces went backwards and we just weren't rigid enough in our carries and our cleans - it was a pretty classy outfit from Wellington."

Picking up a few new injury woes after the hit-out in the capital, Northland could be without halfback Kurt Davies in the coming weeks after he picked up a suspected fracture to a bone in one of his hands.

Additionally, loose forward Dan O'Rourke will be facing some time on the pine as well with team management hinting he may have done his Anterior Cruciate Ligament [ACL] - an injury which could see him out for a good portion of the season.

A thrilling, high-scoring encounter versus Bay of Plenty saw the Northland development team fall short of a win in Tauranga, the final score 39-44. Bay of Plenty scored the winning try inside the dying minutes.

Result: Wellington 29 (W.Goosen, J.Hill, A.Savea, J Garden-Bachop tries, J.Bentley 3 con, pen) Northland 0. Halftime: 17-0.