Rugby: Bulls dominate Magpies in Napier

File photo by John Velvin

Taranaki produced a dominant performance to overwhelm Hawke’s Bay 50-14 in Napier on Sunday and continue building momentum towards the NPC playoffs.

The Bulls scored eight tries at McLean Park, racing to a 21-0 halftime advantage before piling on another 29 points after the break as their forwards laid the platform for an emphatic victory.

Locks Josh Lord and Scott Barrett were at the heart of that dominance.

The pair provided plenty of physicality against the Hawke’s Bay pack, helping Taranaki control the collisions and giving their backs quality ball to attack with.

Barrett, playing his first match for Taranaki since 2021, was particularly influential before being replaced early in the second half, while Lord complemented that work with a strong performance of his own.

Lord was also rewarded with a try as Taranaki showed they were dangerous well beyond their work up front.

It came after the visitors had survived an energetic start from Hawke’s Bay, with Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens held up over the line early in the match in a moment which helped shift the early momentum.

Taranaki eventually broke through after 16 minutes when hooker Bradley Slater scored from a powerful lineout drive.

Three minutes later the Bulls demonstrated another side to their game. Kneepkens and Daniel Rona both broke the defensive line before Lord finished a slick passing movement to extend the lead.

Josh Jacomb converted before Arese Poliko crossed from close range four minutes later, giving Taranaki a commanding 21-0 advantage.

Hawke’s Bay’s problems deepened when Cooper Flanders was shown a yellow card late in the first half, although Taranaki could not add further points before the break.

They did not have to wait long after halftime.

Slater scored his second try just two minutes after the restart before Barrett burst through the Hawke’s Bay defence to help create another opportunity.

Adam Lennox finished that attack in the 51st minute and, almost immediately from the restart, Taranaki struck again.

When the Bulls were able to move the ball into space they looked particularly threatening, with Kneepkens repeatedly causing problems.

The fullback sliced through the defence to score Taranaki’s sixth try, with Meihana Grindlay providing the final pass, as the score ballooned to 40-0 after just 53 minutes.

Hawke’s Bay finally found some reward when Lukas Ripley scored after 61 minutes, but the home side never seriously threatened a comeback.

Replacement hooker JJ Pokai was driven across from another powerful Taranaki maul before Seta Tamanivalu scored the visitors’ eighth and final try with five minutes remaining.

Hawke’s Bay replacement Hunter Morrison crossed late to reduce the margin, but by then the damage had long been done.

The 36-point victory continued an impressive turnaround for Taranaki following some inconsistent performances earlier in the campaign and leaves the Bulls well placed heading into the final round of the regular season.

They return to Stadium Taranaki next Sunday to face Wellington.