Fitting farewell for Capital Stalwart

5.45pm

David Holwell must wish Leinster could wait for one more month, such are the fortunes of his Wellington NPC rugby team.

As has been the case for much of a six-year first class career in the capital, Holwell was the steadying figure at Westpac Stadium on Saturday as Wellington turned on the razzle dazzle to thump Taranaki by a record 73-28 scoreline.

It was the most impressive performance from round seven of the first division, comparable only to Canterbury's smothering 30-15 defeat of Waikato on Friday night.

In his last game before leaving to take up a contract in Ireland, Holwell converted eight of Wellington's 10 tries and conducted a sublime backline display.

It lifts them past the fading Taranaki to the top of the table with two rounds remaining.

Wellington's remaining opponents are Northland and Southland, leaving them every chance to qualify first for the semifinals.

Going by their dominant performance in a remarkable Hurricanes Super 12 derby, Wellington could probably survive without Holwell.

Midfield backs Tana Umaga and Conrad Smith were in sublime form, playing central roles in a five-try opening quarter blitz.

Taranaki, who had looked unstoppable while leading since round two, have conceded 124 points in two games to join a likely six-team battle for the remaining three playoff berths.

On Friday they return to their beloved home ground to host an equally out-of-sorts Otago.

The southerners were again firing blanks out wide in their 3-20 loss away to North Harbour on Saturday.

Slippery conditions meant it wasn't North Harbour's most fluent performance this year but their two-try win was enough to lift them to second place. It also enhanced the growing reputations of powerful No 8 Nick Williams and the speedy Gear brothers, Rico and Hosea, out wide.

Harbour have two crucial matches to end their season against opponents just outside the top four. They travel to sixth-placed Waikato -- who dropped from second place last week -- this Sunday and finish at home to fifth-placed Bay of Plenty.

While Bay of Plenty couldn't match their form of recent weeks, they did enough to get maximum points off an improving Northland at Whangarei, winning 29-24.

They will want to do the same against another tailender, Southland, but will have been watching on warily as Auckland battled to a narrow 30-22 win at Invercargill today.

Southland looked like sneaking the upset of the competition when Paul Miller scored a try three minutes from the end but first five-eighth Richard Apanui's conversion attempt to hit the lead hit the post.

A late try to flanker Daniel Braid flattered Auckland, who will need to improve considerably if they are to continue their last-ditch bid to defend their title.

They host Canterbury who look like being without halfback Justin Marshall at Eden Park on Saturday. The All Blacks No 9 injured his knee against Waikato but his relentless teammates barely missed a beat without him.

- NZPA

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