ITM Cup: Steamers roll wrecks Waikato

Bay of Plenty have stretched their dominance at the top of the ITM Cup premiership to eight points over their nearest rivals and increased the winning streak to three games. But the most pleasing aspect of last night's romp at Rotorua International Stadium?
That the resounding 36-8 win was over an outclassed and humiliated Waikato.
It was a fiery match, blows traded after Waikato were stopped short of the Steamers' line, although Bay skipper Colin Bourke laster described the dust-up as just a "friendly reminder of the rivalry" between the neighbouring provinces.
The Steamers dominated most aspects of last night's game in front of almost 2500 spectators to go to 14 points from three matches, with Wellington looming back at Baypark Stadium on Sunday.
Bourke was justifiably proud of his team: "I just said to the boys I'm proud to be a part of that and hope they realise that if they put that performance on the park every week they'll be right up there with the best in the country."
Which is currently where they are after their second maximum points haul of the week.
Bay were first to score with a Dan Waenga penalty 15 minutes into the match after the home side piled on the pressure, Waenga saving his best game in a Bay jersey for the biggest grudge match of the season.
In his 13th match for the Steamers since joining them from Hawke's Bay last year, Waenga stepped majestically into the big boots left by departing star Mike Delany. It was Bay's biggest winning margin in games between the Chiefs franchise partners.
"We're tracking along a lot better than we thought - points-wise, we're sitting where we want to sit but to be at the top of the table like that is unreal for us," Waenga said.
"We can't remember the last time we beat a Waikato side like that and to do it here at Rotorua Stadium is unreal - the boys are just stoked."
Waenga kicked 16 points on a chilly night and made several incisive breaks. He set up fullback Toby Arnold's two tries by bursting through the Waikato line, once in each half, and nailed two 50m penalties to keep the pressure on.
Bay of Plenty missed some first-up tackles, although the damage was negligible against a woeful Waikato who lacked the ability to punish and whose pack turned over the ball 24 times.
Arnold's first try was reward for a forward effort that had stopped any advance from the Waikato pack.
The Bay's second try came from 18 phases, a scrum and some individual brilliance from flying winger Lelia Masaga.
Arnold was nearly in five minutes later when Waenga again broke from halfway but the fullback unloaded to replacement flanker Sam Cane. Cane was tackled short but replacement hooker John Pareanga barrelled over from the next phase. Waenga missed the conversion but the match was effectively over at 29-3. Toby Lynn eventually scored for Waikato but it barely registered as a consolation.
The Bay's bonus-point try came seven minutes from fulltime, with Arnold collecting a clearing kick just inside his half. Waikato's defence parted like the Red Sea and he fed an ever-hungry Taniela Moa.
"We probably played a lot of rugby, whereas the Bay didn't play too much, but we were at the wrong end of the field," Waikato skipper Nathan White said.
He admitted Bay of Plenty's enthusiasm shook them after having such a short turn-around from the North Harbour match and the traditional power base in the region was beginning to shift.
"For nine months of the year, a lot of us are living together with the Chiefs and we're all pretty good mates and know each other pretty well. In these big games, you always want to get one over your mates, but they probably did that a little better than us tonight.
"It's starting to change a little bit I think - there's a fair few Super 15 players in their team now and only a sprinkling through the Waikato team. There's no little brother-big brother any more."

Scorers
Bay of Plenty 36 (Toby Arnold 2, John Paraenga, Taniela Moa tries; Daniel Waenga 4 pen, con, Arnold con) Waikato 8 (Toby Lynn try; Trent Renata pen). Halftime: 16-3.