Waikato 52 North Harbour 7
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A ruthlessly efficient Waikato ended North Harbour's Ranfurly Shield tenure in emphatic fashion tonight, crushing the defenders by a record 52-7 to lift the iconic rugby shield for the first time since 2000.
The defending Air NZ Cup titleholders pulverised a North Harbour side who were bullied in
every facet, justifying the trip to Albany of thousands of Waikato supporters who dominated the 14,000-strong crowd at North Harbour Stadium.
Rank underdogs before kickoff after an unimpressive buildup, North Harbour had no answer to the relentless pressure and poise Waikato exerted and farewell New Zealand rugby's oldest rugby trophy after surviving challenges from Thames Valley, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Taranaki.
After surging to a 24-0 lead at halftime, Waikato maintained their romp to compile the biggest score by a shield challenger and supersede the heaviest defeat of a holder - Auckland's 35-0 blanking of Canterbury in 1995.
Waikato's eighth reign opens against Canterbury in Hamilton next Saturday night.
It was a dismal end for North Harbour's tenure - which started in Christchurch last September - with inspirational skipper and No 8 Nick Williams' knee injury adding to the agony.
Williams was hurt in the buildup to Waikato's third try in the 38th minute.
By the time Steven Bates had powered over, the die was already cast.
Waikato signalled their intent to attack immediately when Marty Holah tapped a kickable penalty in the fourth minute in a bid to catch North Harbour off guard.
There was no impetuosity second time around when Williams was penalised at a ruck, allowing first five-eighth Stephen Donald to goal a handy 24m penalty in the eighth minute.
Donald also had a hand in Waikato's first try when, after clearing out at a ruck, third string halfback David Bason sniped down the unpatrolled blindside before transferring to right wing James Kamana, who ran 30m untouched behind the goalposts in the 14th minute.
Fullback Dwayne Sweeney was next to expose North Harbour's fragile backline defence when he crabbed along the ground into the 22 before regaining his footing and feeding Holah, who proved unstoppable from close range in the 21st minute.
Boasting a 69kg weight advantage at scrum time and a taller lineout, Waikato froze North Harbour out of a lopsided contest.
Prop Craig West ensured Ben Afeaki endured a difficult night while Holah, Bates, former All Blacks hooker Tom Willis and imposing No 8 Liam Messam guaranteed there was no let up in open play.
After stealing Waikato's first lineout North Harbour had precious little to enthuse about in the first half.
They strung together 10 phases in the 31st minute but lost the ball in contact 5m out, typifying their shoddy performance.
Jack McPhee raised flagging spirits from the second-half kickoff when he converted his try spawned by Anthony Tuitavake's break past Roimata Hansell-Pune.
However, when Messam surged through the midfield before floating a perfect pass to Roy Kinikinilau to secure the bonus point with 30 minutes remaining, the North Harbour faithful started drifting for the exits.
Bates added his second try entering the final quarter before Donald, who goaled an impeccable eight from eight, doubled around Hansell-Pune to add the sixth before he returned the favour by hooking a inside pass for the centre to post the half century.
Waikato were to return to Hamilton about midnight, where the gates to Waikato Stadium were open for fans to salute their heroes.
A civic reception in planned on Monday.
Waikato 52 (Steven Bates 2, James Kamana, Marty Holah, Roy Kinikinilau, Stephen Donald, Roimata Hansell-Pune tries; Stephen Donald pen, 7 con) North Harbour 7 (Jack McPhee try; con). Halftime: 24-0.
- NZPA