Waikato roll Northland

7.20pm

Waikato gained their third win in the NPC first division rugby competition after beating Northland 41-21 at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton tonight.

The result sees Waikato remain in the top-four on 16 points after round five, while Northland, although more competitive than in previous matches, are still winless.

Second five-eighth Keith Lowen scored Waikato's fourth try with about 10 minutes left to secure the maximum five competition points.

Winger Sosene Anesi scored shortly afterwards to inflate the final scoreline, but Aaron Baigent crossed right on fulltime for Northland's third try.

A David Hill penalty opened the scoring, but the first try did not come until the 17th minute when Waikato lock Josh Sole showed good speed to break a tackle then step Northland fullback Jared Going to dot down.

When Waikato prop Deacon Manu scored three minutes later after peeling away from a maul, the floodgates looked to have opened with another Hill conversion to give the hosts a 17-0 lead.

Northland hooker Tim Dow stemmed the points flow when he crossed over, and a sideline conversion from Northland first five-eighth Julian Huxley shortened the lead.

Hill extended the gap to 13 when he landed a second penalty, in the process raising a personal milestone of 1000 first class points, and giving Waikato a 20-7 lead at the break.

Northland centre Hayden Taylor crashed over for a five-pointer five minutes into the second half and Huxley converted to trim Waikato's lead to six points.

Dow was in the action again when he was sin-binned for punching halfback Byron Kelleher and Waikato pounced with Marty Holah scoring near the posts.

Waikato 41 (Josh Sole, Deacon Manu, Marty Holah, Keith Lowen, Sosene Anesi tries; David Hill 2 pen, 5 con)

Northland 21 (Tim Dow, Hayden Taylor, Aaron Baigent tries; Julian Huxley 3 con).

Halftime: 20-7

- NZPA

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