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Taranaki thrashed Wellington to move into second in the Premiership Division of the Mitre 10 Cup on Sunday.
Stephen Perofeta scored a hat-trick as Taranaki claimed a resounding 54-31 victory at Westpac Stadium.
Marty McKenzie went seven of eight with the boot for his 17-point haul for Taranaki, who ran in seven tries.
Taranaki moved from fifth to second, while Wellington earned a bonus point to join Otago atop the Championship Division.
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Bay of Plenty held on for a hard-fought 38-33 victory over Manawatu in Rotorua.
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis scored a crucial try that gave Manawatu hope, but Otere Black missed a conversion that would have levelled the encounter late on.
Dan Hollinshead's penalty gave Bay of Plenty breathing space in the closing stages as they maintained hope of reaching the semi-finals in the Championship Division.