Ascendant Auckland are NPC champions

9.15pm - by WYNN GRAY

AUCKLAND 40 WAIKATO 28

Auckland continued their rugby resurgence to clinch their 13th NPC crown in Hamilton Saturday night when they beat Waikato 40-28.

The champions stormed away to a 20-3 lead after the first quarter, a margin which proved to be crucial as Waiktato staged a late but unfruitful revival.

Waikato would also rue some lineout mistakes where they conceded two tries in a match where Auckland outscored their neighbours 6 tries to 3.

That superiority could have been greater as Carlos Spencer was only successful with four of his ten shots at goal. Many were from difficult angles and, apart from those misses, the five-eighths controlled much of Auckland's play.

The Division One final was a farewell for Waikato wing Bruce Reihana, with others like captain Deon Muir and prop Deacon Manu also candidates to leave the province.

Auckland 40 (D Howlett 2, M Muliaina, K. Mealamu, C Spencer, X Rush, tries; Spencer 2 cons 2 pen)

Waikato 20 (R King, G Smith, K Lowen, tries; B Reihana 3 pen 2 con)

Half-time: Auckland 20 Waikato 16.