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Blowout NPC victories for Waikato, Harbour


Points flowed and records fell in the National Provincial Championship (NPC) on Saturday.


Waikato first-five D'Angelo Leuila and North Harbour No 10 Tane Edmed broke their unions' individual NPC scoring records in big home victories over Hawke's Bay and Manawatu, respectively, in Round 6.


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Leuila scored four tries and booted six conversions and a penalty as he racked up 35 points in Waikato's 50-5 demolition of Hawke's Bay in the wet at Hamilton's FMG Stadium Waikato.


Leuila's haul equalled the 35 points scored by wing Bruce Reihana against North Otago in a non-NPC match in 2000.


With Hawke's Bay perhaps suffering from a post-Ranfurly Shield hangover, the Mooloos put it on them early and often, with three tries, including two for Leuila, and a 21-0 lead in the opening 15 minutes.


The Magpies answered through second-five Danny Toala but Malachi Wrampling scored and Leuila had his hat-trick and 26 first-half points before the break, leading 36-5.


D'Angelo Leuila Kade Banks NPC rugby
Waikato's D'Angelo Leuila (left) and North Harbour's Kade Banks scored a combined six tries. PHOTOS: WAIKATO RUGBY, HARBOUR RUGBY

Leuila slid over for his fourth try just five minutes into the second half, while wing Gideon Wrampling completed the scoring in the 59th minute.


With a fourth victory, Waikato solidified their place in the top-eight, moving up to fifth, just a point out of the top-four. Hawke's Bay's second loss in eight days after starting the season with five straight wins saw them drop to third.


In Round 7, Waikato host current Ranfurly Shield holders Tasman on Sunday (kick-off 9.05pm), while Hawke's Bay return to Napier to take on Taranaki on Friday (kick-off 7.05pm).



Australian import Edmed scored two tries and was perfect off the tee, with seven conversions and three penalties, for 33 points in Harbour's 58-19 rout of winless Manawatu at North Harbour Stadium.


His points haul was one shy of Frano Botica, who scored a union-record 34 points against Queensland Country in 1985.


Edmed scored the game's opening 10 points and hooker Bryn Gordon went over as Harbour led 17-0 after 15 minutes. Manawatu answered with tries from hooker Raymond Tuputupu and prop Joseph Gavigan.


The visitors could not hold out Harbour, who got two tries from wing Kade Banks and another from Sofai Maka to lead 41-19 at halftime. Edmed and Maka scored their second tries in the second half, with Harbour outscoring the Turbos 17-0.


Next week, Harbour travel up State Highway 1 to take on Northland in Whangarei on Saturday (kick-off 1.05pm), while Manawatu continue their 'Storm Week' back in Palmerston North on Wednesday (kick-off 7.05pm) against Southland.



Two tries from replacement wing Fehi Fineanganofo propelled Bay of Plenty to a 33-20 victory over Taranaki at Tauranga Domain in Saturday's early match.


Leading 14-10 at halftime, the Steamers extended their lead with a try from hooker Kurt Eklund, then speedy Fineanganofo's double in a five-minute span put them up 33-10 after 63 minutes.


Taranaki got consolation tries wings Verekini Tikoisolomone and Kini Naholo but it was too little, too late.


In the first half, flanker Joe Johnston and lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi scored tries for Bay of Plenty, who led 14-3 after 23 minutes, before the Bulls hit back through second-five Daniel Rona.


Bay of Plenty head to the Capital next week to face currently unbeaten Wellington on Saturday (kick-off 3.35pm), while Taranaki face a tough assignment against Hawke's Bay on Friday (kick-off 7.05pm).


Waikato 50 (Tepaea Cook-Savage, D'Angelo Leuila 4, Malachi Wrampling, Gideon Wrampling tries; D'Angelo Leuila 6 con, pen) Hawkes' Bay 5 (Danny Toala try). HT: 36-5


North Harbour 58 (Tane Edmed 2, Bryn Gordon, Kade Banks 2, Sofai Maka 2 tries; Tane Edmed 7 con, 3 pen) Manawatu 19 (Raymond Tuputupu, Joseph Gavigan, Te Kamaka Howden tries; Liam O'Connor 2 con). HT: 41-19


Bay of Plenty 33 (Joe Johnston, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kurt Eklund, Fehi Fineanganofo 2 tries; Kaleb Trask 4 con) Taranaki 20 (Daniel Rona, Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Kini Naholo tries; Josh Jacomb con, pen). HT: 14-10

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