Taranaki inflicted yet more doubt and uncertainty on Auckland with a fine national provincial championship rugby win at New Plymouth today.
The home side won 39-11, a record margin for the province over Auckland, after an explosive 12-minute period in the second spell rewarded them with four tries as they secured their third victory from four outings.
Conversely, it marked Auckland's third defeat as their indifferent campaign continued to stutter along.
Not that that will concern Taranaki, who turned what had been an error-filled affair on its head with four quickfire tries to streak out to a 34-6 lead entering the final quarter.
Livewire flanker Scott Waldrom accounted for the first of them in the 45th minute when he took the ball at first receiver from a ruck, stepped one defender then used his pace to outstrip the cover in a 22m run to the line.
Eight minutes it was the turn of halfback Tyson Keats to show a clean pair of heels as he shot through a gaping hole after receiving a deep lineout take.
Auckland barely had time to find their breath when they found themselves behind the goalposts again 1min later after fullback Kurt Baker initiated then finished a breakout which saw him link with impressively quick left wing Jackson Ormond.
Taranaki's gunpowder had not run dry, though, and only another 3min passed before they pocketed a bonus point fourth touchdown when midfield back Jayden Hayward pick pocketed an intercept to scamper away.
The match then returned to being a stop-start affair until tries were traded in the closing minutes, Auckland finally breaking through via fullback Brent Ward before Taranaki substitute hooker Mahonri Schwalger provided an exclamation mark to his side's performance with their fifth touchdown after the final hooter.
All Blacks utility back Isaia Toeava made his comeback from a lengthy injury layoff for Auckland but there was nothing one player could do to stem the Taranaki tide.
Taranaki had led 6-3 at halftime after 40 minutes of plenty of ball movement but few points to show for it.
Both teams, and Auckland in particular, showed a liking for giving the ball plenty of air and their failure to convert plentiful possession into points owed as much to Taranaki's stern defence as the visitors' inability to clinically finish off their attack.
Too often the ball was lost in the tackle or knocked forward, something Taranaki did as well as the spell ended with 19 turnovers, 10 to Auckland and nine to the home side.
The spell ended with Taranaki first five-eighth and goalkicker Beauden Barrett and his youthful opposite Gareth Anscombe the only contributors to the scoreboard.
Anscombe's lone penalty came after he was thumped in a crunchingly hard tackle only for Taranaki to transgress at the ensuing ruck.
Auckland were not helped by the failure of big No 8 Peter Saili to see out the half after he was forced from the field with a rib injury.
Barrett ended the match with 14 points after a six-from-eight goalkicking return.
