Bay of Plenty stretched their winning streak to three games when they mauled Waikato 36-8 in a national provincial championship clash in Rotorua last night.
Former Hawke's Bay first five-eighth Daniel Waenga set up two tries and kicked 16 points, to help send Waikato spinning to their second defeat in three
games.
Waenga was not the only Steamers star. Fullback Toby Arnold bagged two tries, then turned provider with a second-half dash that split the defence.
Waikato changed 10 of their starting 15 from their last outing and inserted five of this season's Chiefs - Jackson Willison, Brendon Leonard, Nathan White, Aled de Malmanche and Ben May. But Bay of Plenty gelled better, while Waikato looked disjointed.
Waenga opened the scoring with a penalty, then set his backs alight for Arnold to score. The first five-eighth converted, then added two more penalties to seal a 16-3 lead at halftime. Waikato's points came from a Trent Renata penalty.
An early second-half penalty by Waenga set Waikato back-pedalling for the rest of the match.
Bay of Plenty top the standings with 14 points, with closest rivals Canterbury and Auckland on six.
