KEY POINTS:
Waikato 39 Otago 10
Captain Liam Messam scored a first-half hat-trick as Waikato kept their national championship season alive with a convincing victory over Otago.
Messam went into the match favouring a dodgy hamstring but even on one-and-a-half legs he was far too classy for an Otago side that will need to beat competition leaders Wellington in Dunedin next week and hope other results go their way to progress beyond the round robin.
Such a scenario may be fanciful but Waikato's chances of extending their into the playoffs appear anything but.
With a host of All Blacks set to return to the Mooloo ranks next week, they'll fancy their chances of toppling Taranaki to confirm their playoff spot.
On this evidence, however, Waikato's need for reinforcements doesn't appear that pressing. Certainly they didn't look much like a team that had managed just a paltry two wins from eight matches before last night.
Messam's first try owed as much to a misjudgment from Otago prop Keith Cameron as it did his own powerful leg drive. Cameron opted to try and keep Messam on his feet when he drove close to the line but instead of forcing a turnover he simply allowed the powerful flanker to drive his way over two more would-be tacklers and score.
Basketballer turned lock Romana Graham made the break and supplied the pass that led to Messam's fortuitous second but there was nothing the least bit fluky about the try that brought up his hat-trick two minutes before the break.
Having received the ball from a quick lineout 5m on his own side of half-way, Messam dummied his way through the gullible Otago line and produced a sizzling step to beat flanker Eben Joubert before dotting down between the sticks.
The lengthy sprint was too much for Messam's damaged leg but by then his job was well and truly done.
Halfback David Bason had earlier crossed for a simple try, meaning Messam's third secured the bonus point. Otago's sole reply in the half was a 40m drop goal to first five-eighths Daniel Bowden.
Winger Karne Hesketh got a try back for Otago after the break but Soseni Anesi soon cancelled that out with Waikato's fifth.
Waikato 39 (L. Messam, D. Bason, S. Anesi tries; C. Bruce 5 cons, 2 pen)
Otago 10 (K. Hesketh try, D. Bowden DG, con). HT: 28-3
