Defending champions Taranaki have started the new National Provincial Championship (NPC) season where they left off the last.
The Bulls scored a bonus-point 31-15 victory over Counties Manukau at Yarrows Stadium in New Plymouth on Friday night, before Wellington held off Auckland 29-21 at Eden Park in the opening night double-header.
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Powerful left wing Kiri Naholo scored two first-half tries, one of which finished off a sweeping movement, while first-five Josh Jacomb, who also scored twice, was a steady controlling factor in the match.
After the Steelers went close to scoring the opening try, losing the ball over the line, Taranaki struck first through Naholo in the 11th minute. A slick backline move broke the defensive line near mid-field and quick hands gave Naholo space on the left, beating two cover defence tackles to run in.
Counties halfback Liam Daniela was sin-binned for an offside tackle in the 31st minute, leading immediately to Naholo's second, this time skipping out of five would-be tackles.
Jacomb charged down a Steelers clearing kick just before halftime, regathering the ball on the full to jog 30m to score, putting the home side up 19-3 at the break.
Taranaki put the result beyond doubt when Jacomb scythed through for his second in the first minute after the resumption, then reserve lock Jackson Morgan burrowed over in the 53rd minute.
Down 31-3, Counties Manukau got consolation tries from second-five Gibson Popoali'i and All Blacks off-cast Hoskins Sotutu, as Taranaki's Michael Bent was yellow-carded for repeated infringements at the ruck.
Wellington also claimed maximum points from their confidence-boosting away victory in the Auckland rain.
Off the back of a strong Super Rugby Pacific season, No 8 Peter Lakai made a break in the middle of Auckland's defence before offloading to halfback Kyle Preston for the opening try in the 15th minute.
Eight minutes later, after repeated penalties by the Lions, Auckland got numbers on the left edge, shifting the ball wide to left wing Nigel Ah Wong to score, levelling the match.
Wellington's dangerous backline continued to create chances, with fullback TJay Clarke and Peter Umaga-Jensen going over in the minutes before halftime, which was the winning of the match, leading 19-7 at the break.
Auckland captain Akira Ioane strolled through Wellington's defence off the back of a 5m scrum to get the home side back in the contest, before Jackson Garden-Bachop extended the Lions' lead to eight points with a penalty.
After continuous phases on attack inside Auckland's 22, flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi finally crossed the line for Wellington in the 60th minute, going up 29-14 after Garden-Bachop's third conversion of the night.
The Gulls had the final say, with flanker Anton Segner going over for a consolation try in the right-hand corner in the 76th minute.
In Round 2, Taranaki travel to the Capital to take on the Lions next Sunday (kick-off 2.05pm), while Auckland travel to Dunedin to play Otago on Friday (kick-off 7.05pm) and Counties Manukau host Waikato in Pukekohe next Sunday (kick-off 4.35pm).
Round 1 continues on Saturday, with three matches. Southland host Otago for 'Stag Day' in Invercargill (kick-off 2.05pm), the country's best rivalry, while Canterbury welcome Northland to Christchurch (kick-off 2.05pm) and Waikato take on Bay of Plenty in the Battle of the Kaimais in Hamilton (kick-off 4.35pm).
Taranaki 31 (Kiri Naholo 2, Josh Jacomb 2, Jackson Morgan tries; Josh Jacomb 3 con) Counties Manukau 15 (Gibson Popoali'i, Hoskins Sotutu tries; Kalione Hala con, Riley Hohepa pen). HT: 19-3
Wellington 29 (Kyle Preston, TJay Clarke, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Du'Plessis Kirifi tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 3 con, pen) Auckland 21 (Nigel Ah Wong, Akira Ioane, Anton Segner tries; Alex Harford 2 con, Zarn Sullivan con). HT: 19-7
