Waikato open NPC with composed win

Taranaki's Jason Eaton is dejected as Waikato celebrate Isaac Boss's try. Picture / Fotopress

Waikato had more class and composure comfortably beating Taranaki 30-6 in a helter-skelter start to the NPC first division rugby championship in Hamilton tonight.

After going ahead 6-3 on the half-hour, Taranaki failed to score again in a error-ridden display at Waikato Stadium, handing new Waikato coach Warren Gatland first-up success.

Waikato eventually clamped control on all areas except the lineout, crossing for three tries while second five-eighth David Hill finished with 15 points with a six-from-six kicking display.

The visitors were inventive but dropped too much ball and kicked aimlessly, while Waikato had the more effective playmakers in halfback Isaac Boss and first five-eighth Stephen Donald.

Down 6-10 at halftime, Taranaki faded in the second spell and in the face of some strong home team tackling, never looked like picking up a third-straight win on Waikato soil.

Waikato dominated the last 50 minutes and would be disappointed not to claim a bonus point for four tries.

They opened the scoring with a sixth-minute Hill penalty but as the first half wore on the more experienced Taranaki forward pack began to establish themselves, leading to two Feather penalties.

A pivotal point came on the stroke of halftime when veteran Mark Ranby crossed for a try, just moments after flanker David Faville had blown one when he lost the ball over the tryline.

From the next play Donald ripped the ball from Taranaki No 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, leaving an overlap on the right.

Another Hill penalty extended the lead soon after the break before Boss ended a move he started with a try in the 53rd minute. He burst through a lineout to set up a Waikato surge and was on hand later to scamper over from close range.

Their final try came with seven minutes remaining courtesy of a slick backline move which put winger Richard Kahui clear.

Scoreboard:

Waikato 30 (Mark Ranby, Isaac Boss, Richard Kahui tries; David Hill 3 pen, 3 con)
Taranaki 6 (Todd Feather 2 pen).

Halftime: 10-6.

- NZPA