GREYMOUTH - A relentless, almost merciless Waikato rode roughshod over third-division challengers West Coast in their Ranfurly Shield defence in Greymouth yesterday.
Waikato charged to a 99-3 victory after scoring 15 tries, five of them to centre Keith Lowen.
Were it not for a kindly gesture from referee Peter Boyden, who called
the match off six minutes early, Waikato would have easily topped the century mark.
West Coast were outmuscled by the bigger Waikato side, but nevertheless produced a gutsy performance against the odds.
Lowen was the major beneficiary of Waikato's expansive game plan, but wing Roger Randle, fullback Todd Miller and No 8 Deon Muir each scored two tries, while the others went to hooker Guy Coleman, halfback Ben Willis, flanker Jono Gibbes and late replacement Mark Ranby.
Former All Blacks lock Royce Willis and Muir had powerful games up front for Waikato.
West Coast's first-up tackling was generally sound, but the relentless wave of second, third and fourth-phase attacks proved unstoppable.
Loose forwards Regan Dixon, Jamie Connors and James Lamb had outstanding defensive games for the challengers, while captain Michael Foster provided his team's only points with a 40m penalty.
Waikato led 47-0 at halftime, by which time they had scored seven tries. The West Coast team was much-changed from that which performed so well last season. There are only eight survivors and already this season 14 players have made their debut for the province.
It was Waikato's 16th defence of the shield since they won it from Auckland in 1997.
The Waikato team now take the log of wood to Oamaru where they play North Otago on Saturday.
Waikato 99 (Keith Lowen 5, Roger Randle 2, Todd Miller 2, Deon Muir 2, Guy Coleman, Ben Willis, Jono Gibbes, Mark Ranby tries; Glen Jackson 12 con) West Coast 3 (Michael Foster pen). Ht: 47-0.
- NZPA
Waikato Ranfurly Shield schedule
