NPC: Lions' unbeaten run continues
Wellington remain unbeaten in the NPC, after beating Bay of Plenty 33-16.
That makes it six wins in a row for the Lions.
Tries in the first half to Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Tim Bateman set up Wellington's win, who took a 20-6 half-time lead.
Bay of Plenty made a better fist of things in the second half to close the game to eight points at one stage.
However, Wellington's third try, through Shaun Treeby, sealed the victory.
Wellington have scored 29 tries in their six matches to date, and conceded only nine.
But for the first time this season, they were unable to add the bonus point, which leaves them seven points clear of second-placed Auckland, who have a game in hand.
* Waikato scored six tries to thump Auckland 42-24 in Hamilton on Saturday.
After losing three games on the trot, and the Ranfurly Shield, the Mooloo men burst out of the blocks and notched a four-try bonus point shortly after the half-hour mark.
* Canterbury hand-picked Otago to come to Christchurch for a cross-over fixture but the hosts nearly regretted their preseason selection after struggling to remain unbeaten in the NPC.
The defending champions survived a scare to triumph 32-22 and move above Auckland in second spot, setting up a top-of-the-table clash in Wellington next weekend.
* Meanwhile an inspired North Harbour tore up the form book to upset Championship leaders Tasman 23-12 and secure their first win in their 2013 campaign.
North Harbour's revival where they scored 20 unanswered points, was made likely only through some disappointing inaccuracies from a usually-reliable Tasman side that couldn't adapt to North Harbour's solid defence.
* Manawatu secured their first back-to-back victories of the season, defeating Southland 27-17 in Palmerston North and Counties Manukau kept the Ranfurly Shield with a 44-7 victory over Taranaki.
All this week's scorers and scorers
Counties Manukau 44-7 Taranaki
Scorers:
For Counties Manukau:
Tries: Halai 2, Elliot, Tupou, Hancy, Lee-Lo
Con: Kerr 3, Tuala
Pen: Kerr 2
For Taranaki:
Tries: Carmichael
Con: Waaka
Waikato 42-24 Auckland
Scorers:
Waikato:
Tries: Grice, Weber 2, Wharewera, Masirewa, Renata
Con: Renata 6
Auckland:
Tries: Parkes, Tuipulotu, Aso, Moli
Con: Weepu 2
Canterbury 32-22 Otago
Scorers:
Canterbury:
Tries: Keresoma, Taylor, G Whitelock, Fa'anunu
Cons: Taylor 3
Pens: Taylor 2
Otago:
Try: Fuatai
Con: Parker
Pens: Parker 5
Wellington 33-16 Bay of Plenty
The scorers:
Wellington:
Tries: Toomaga-Allen, Bateman, Treeby
Cons: Sopoaga 3
Pens: Sopoaga 4
Bay of Plenty:
Try: Thomas
Con: Ripia
Pens: Ripia 3
North Harbour 23-12 Tasman
The scorers:
North Harbour:
Tries: Afeaki, Saili
Cons: Elrick 2
Pens: Elrick 3
Tasman:
Pens: Banks 4
Manawatu 27-17 Southland
The scorers:
Manawatu:
Tries: Emery, Wharewera, Stone
Cons: Te Rure 3
Pens: Te Rure 2
Southland:
Tries: Hardie, Boys
Cons: Mckenzie, Eade
Pen: Mckenzie
Taranaki 23-10 Hawke's Bay
The scorers:
Taranaki:
Tries: Gibson-Park, Peleseuma
Cons: Taylor 2
Pens: Taylor 3
Hawke's Bay:
Try: Atkins
Con: Lespinas
Pen: Lespinas
