Wellington put Waikato to the sword

Wellington consolidated their position at the top of the Mitre 10 Cup Championship table after beating Waikato 34-10 in Hamilton on Saturday.

After putting 60 points past Premiership pacesetters Canterbury earlier in the week, Wellington showed that that result was not a fluke and they eventually outscored Waikato five tries to one.

The opening half was a tight affair and the sides were deadlocked at 10-10 at half-time. Wellington took the lead via a Dan Kirkpatrick penalty in the fourth minute but they were soon reduced to 14 men after referee Cam Stone sent Asafo Amua to the sin bin for a no-arms tackle on Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara.

Waikato drew level thanks to a Sevu Reece penalty midway through the half before Sam Lousi crossed for the opening try in the 35th minute. Kirkpatrick added the extras but the home side were soon level after Bailyn Sullivan crossed for a try which Reece converted.

The visitors upped the ante on attack after the break and were rewarded when Kirkpatrick scored their second try. Wellington received their second yellow card in the 56th minute – Regan Verney the guilty party after another dangerous tackle.

But despite their numerical disadvantage, Wellington were still dominant and a try from Mateaki Kafatolu, which Jackson Garden-Bachop converted, and further five-pointers from Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Alex Fidow secured them a comfortable victory.

The scorers:

For Waikato:
Try: Sullivan
Con: Reece
Pen: Reece

For Wellington:
Tries: Louisi, Kirkpatrick, Kafatolu, Umaga-Jensen, Fidow
Cons: Kirkpatrick. Garden-Bachop 2
Pen: Kirkpatrick
Yellow Cards: Aumua, Verney

Waikato: 15 Tyler Campbell, 14 Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Tevita Taufui, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Pele Cowley, 8 Jordan Manihera, 7 Mitch Jacobsen, 6 Luke Jacobsen, 5 James Tucker (c), 4 Leva Fifita, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Hame Faiva, 1 Ayden Johnstone 
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Loni Uhila, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Sam Caird, 20 Adam Burn, 21 Harrison Levien, 22 Matty Landsdown, 23 Pita Ahki

Wellington: 15 Ben Lam, 14 Julian Savea (c), 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Regan Verney, 11 Malo Tuitama, 10 Dan Kirkpatrick, 9 Sheridan Rangihuna, 8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Mateaki Kafatolu, 5 Will Mangos, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Alex Fidow, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Sitiveni Paongo 
Replacements: 16  Leni Apisai, 17 Tolu Fahamokioa, 18 Joe Apikotoa, 19 Chris Middleton, 20 Galu Taufale), 21 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Billy Proctor 

Referee: Cam Stone