League: Solid victory puts Lions clear

The Auckland Lions have a stranglehold on the Bartercard Cup competition after a comprehensive 56-22 victory over the until-now over-performing Waicoa Bay Stallions.

The Lions were up 38-6 by the break and only a slackening of effort let the Stallions back into it.

Warrior Lance Hohaia, steering the game from five-eighth, was solid but unspectacular, looking at his best when the Lions' effort was down for the mid-quarter of the second half. He produced nice chip kicks to put both wingers in.

Hooker Peter Prime scored a good individual try with a run from dummy-half and a chip to the in-goal, but the closest the Stallions ever got was 48-18.

Sala Fa'alogo provided offensive power for the Lions, making several big long-range breaks. Their five-eighth, Steve Buckingham, came off once the game was safe and his replacement signalled an end to the Lions' control. Mistakes and wrong options allowed Waicoa the possession and territory to get three tries.

The curtainraiser to the Warriors-Tigers game between Counties-Manukau and Waitakere was much closer than the 40-26 scoreline suggests.

The Jets started harder and faster and had scored twice before Waitakere turned up to play. The Rangers fought back and held the lead at one point, but the game was decided seven minutes from time when they spilled the ball on their 10m line and conceded a decisive try. The Jets scored twice more in the dying minutes.

Yesterday the Canterbury Bulls beat the Central Falcons 32-18 at Fitzherbert Park in Palmerston North. The Northern Storm beat Wellington 40-22 at Jubilee Park in Whangarei.

The Tamaki Leopards will field Warriors George Tuakura and Cooper Vuna against North Harbour in the game at Mt Smart Stadium to be televised live on Maori TV at 8 tonight.