Wellington pack hunts down Waikato

Criticised for their two consecutive losses in the NPC, the Wellington forwards responded with an explosive 80 minutes of rugby to blow Waikato away 41-17 at the Waikato Stadium tonight.

Wellington won with a bonus point for scoring at least four tries and moved from the bottom four of the competition to the top four before the rest of the weekend's matches.

That four of their five tries came from the forwards, locks Ross Filipo (two) and Ross Kennedy and No 8 Thomas Waldrom, underscored the Wellington forwards' effort.

Second five-eighth David Hill scored all of Waikato's points from two tries, a penalty and two conversions.

Wellington were penalised heavily, at least 13 times, but Waikato's downfall came in possession turnover and some sloppy tackles.

Midfielder and captain Ma'a Nonu was too strong for Mark Ranby when he smashed his way over from inside the 22 following a lineout for Wellington's first try in just the third minute.

Waldrom also scored after a lineout take by Filipo in the 30th minute. He ran from 40m through some poor tackles, including that of All Black winger Sitiveni Sivivatu's.

Seven minutes later Filipo scored the first of his two tries, again through some half-hearted tackles, including Waikato captain Steven Bates'.

Jimmy Gopperth kicked his third conversion and Wellington led 21-3 at halftime.

Gopperth kicked two penalties and by the time Hill scored his first try in the 62nd minute, Wellington were well on the way to victory after two losses in a row.

Wellington were quick to respond to Hill's converted try and Kennedy, playing a bustling game, scored the bonus-earning fourth try just two minutes later.

Waikato started to hit the fringes hard and were rewarded when Hill found a gap through there for his second try in the 70th minute.

Wellington won a turnover after the fulltime hooter and halfback Brendan Haami, a livewire link who continually hurried forwards, sent the attack left where Filipo finished it off in style. Gopperth added the conversion from near the sideline.

Wellington 41

(Ross Filipo 2, Ma'a Nonu, Thomas Waldrom, Ross Kennedy tries; Jimmy Gopperth 2 pen, 5 con)

Waikato 17

(David Hill 2 tries; pen, 2 con)

Halftime: 21-3.

- NZPA