Bonus-point win for Taranaki

Taranaki stayed in touch with the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership pace-setters but had to work hard to see off Bay of Plenty 29-7 in New Plymouth.

This was their fourth win from five games as they move a point behind North Harbour and a further four behind the excellent Canterbury.

It was 8-0 at the break after a long scoreless spell but finally the 'Naki had points through a Marty McKenzie penalty goal on 28 minutes. Their try arrived three minutes before the break after a nice offload from replacement Johnny Fa’auli set up Declan O’Donnell on the right.

Bay of Plenty would have been rightly disappointed not to be on the board as they enjoyed plenty of possession and territory in that first half.

After the break though it was Taranaki adding to their lead when Mitchell Graham crossed, and with Bay of Plenty looking to gamble late on, they had their pocket picked by replacement Manasa Mataele, who intercepted a pass and raced under the posts to add their third try.

Taranaki though saved their best until last with a lovely team score from their own half seeing Sione Lea finish off for the bonus point before Elijah Nicholas's late try for Bay of Plenty gave the visitors something to show for their efforts.

The scorers:

For Taranaki:
Tries: O'Donnell, Graham, Mataele, Lea
Cons: McKenzie 3
Pen: McKenzie
Yellow Card: Boshier

For Bay of Plenty:
Try: Nicholas
Con: Delany
Yellow Card: Stowers

Taranaki: 15 Marty McKenzie, 14 Declan O’Donnell, 13 Sean Wainui, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Seta Tamanivalu, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 5 Fin Hoeata, 4 Brad Tucker, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Mitchell Graham
Replacements: 16 Sione Lea, 17 Reuben O’Neill, 18 Asa Sorovaki, 19 Leon Power, 20 Adrian Wyrill, 21 Kylem O’Donnell, 22 Johnny Fa’auli, 23 Manasa Mataele

Bay of Plenty: 15 Isaac Te Aute, 14 Monty Ioane, 13 Liam Steel, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Chase Tiatia, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Luke Campbell, 8 Tyler Ardron, 7 Henry Stowers, 6 Jesse Parete, 5 Culum Retallick (c), 4 Troy Callander, 3 Jeff Thwaites, 2 Sabastian Siataga, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 James Lay, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Hugh Blake, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Terrence Hepetema, 23 Elijah Nicholas

Referee: Jamie Nutbrown