Rugby: Taranaki in huge upset over Waikato

By WYNNE GRAY

Taranaki 30 Waikato 18

Waikato were heading for a decent NPC lead until they travelled to New Plymouth and last night felt the sting of Taranaki and a provincial competition rated the toughest in the world.

If there were going to be any upsets in round three this weekend, most thought it would depend on the influence of those All Blacks back on duty.

Instead the boilover came in the one game without that effect.

In the first game for the Ryan Wheeler Trophy, in memory of the flanker who played for both provinces, Taranaki earned the first engraving.

The secret of the home side's success came with their backline, the foundation set by their reliable and industrious pack.

That forward platform regularly appears with the Slater brothers, Paul Tito and Daryl Fale but the work of the backs can be a bit more hit and miss.

Last night they fired so well that they produced a bonus point inside 50 minutes after Neil Brew scored twice, Daryl Lilley scored another and left wing Lome Fa'atau blazed in for the last after an interception from superb flanker Neil Crowley.

The Ranfurly Shield-holders were even denied a bonus point as they tried to stage a final-quarter rally. Taranaki dominated the first quarter but were behind on the scoreboard 8-10.

New Zealand Colts wing Brew scored his first try after 14 minutes when he finished a shortside move with a chip and chase and the match officials decided he had forced the just ahead of the covering Rhys Duggan.

It took a penalty from Glen Jackson to start Waikato's scoring but they had little ball until a Taranaki mistake gave them a chance. A miscued clearance allowed Jackson to double round Bruce Reihana who put Todd Miller in for a try in his NPC debut this season.

Jackson's conversion gave Waikato an unlikely lead but Brew had an answer. Impressive fullback Lilley made a break with Mepi Faoagali in support to give the wing his second touchdown. However a second Jackson penalty left the scores tied 13-all at the break with no sign of the sensations to come.

New five-eighths Craig Taylor looped from a scrum, and Fa'atau was used as an extra man to put Lilley in for the best try of the game. It was not as brilliant as Christian Cullen's epic try for the All Blacks in Wellington but it was a training ground move pulled off with equal precision.

Crowley's intercept minutes later to start the fourth try knocked most of the resistance from Waikato, who looked listless in the backs and without a great deal of fizz in the forwards. Captain Deon Muir, flanker Jonno Gibbes and David Briggs worked hard but could not crush the Taranaki spirit.

Taranaki (N. Brew 2, D. Lilley, L. Fa'atau, tries; Lilley, 2 con, pen) Waikato (T. Miller, B. Reihana tries; G. Jackson, 2 pen, con) Halftime: 13-13.