After controversially missing promotion under the previous format, Taranaki have continued their disastrous start to the newlook National Provincial Competition, slumping 46-6 to Bay of Plenty for their second straight loss of the season.
In 2021, the Bulls went unbeaten - including victory over premiership champions Waikato - en route to the championship crown, but were denied elevation into the top tier, with Auckland, North Harbour and Counties Manukau locked down under COVID-19 isolation.
Subsequently, NZ Rugby eliminated promotion-relegation by dividing the 14 teams into two relatively even groups, but the new format has not been kind to Taranaki, who dropped their season opener to Northland last week.
With leading pointscorer Stephen Perofeta now on All Blacks duty, they sought a bounceback against the Steamers at Tauranga, but never led and could not find the tryline, as they conceded six tries to their opponents.
Bay led 17-6 at halftime, with lock Justin Sangster and prop Tevita Mafileo crossing to score, supplemented by the boot of first-five Kaleb Trask. The home side piled on the points after the restart with flanker Naitoa Ah Kuoi, second-five Kaveinga Finau, winger Emoni Narawa and replacement Nikora Broughton touching down.
The result provides Bay of Plenty with their first win of the season, while Taranaki take on unbeaten Canterbury next Saturday.
Meanwhile, Auckland have maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, but struggled to overcome Southland 24-16 in their third game in eight days.
The northern visitors relied on a try to No.8 Jackson Pugh and a penalty try for a 14-6 halftime advantage, but the Stags closed to within three points, when centre Isaac Te Tamaki scored a try, converted by first-five Marty Banks.
Winger Salesi Rayasi provided the decisive try in the 65th minute and Auckland became the first team to three wins for the season.
Meanwhile, North Harbour heaped more misfortune on winless Manawatū, with a 64-14 rout at their home stadium.
Winger Tevita Li ran in three of Harbour's nine tries, while the Turbos have now fallen to three heavy defeats by an average of 41 points.
Bay of Plenty 46 (Sangster, Ah Kuoi, Finau, Mafileo, Broughton & Narawa tries; Trask 4 conversions & 2 penalties, Hawera conversion) Taranaki 6 (Potroz 2 penalties)
Auckland 24 (Pugh & Rayasi tries, penalty try; Plummer 2 conversions & penalty) Southland 16 (Te Tamaki try; Banks 3 penalties & conversion)
North Harbour 64 (Li 3, Stevenson, Telea, Suafoa, Fonokalafi, Heighton & Nginangini tries; Gatland 4 conversions & penalty, Stevenson 3 conversions, Fidow conversion) Manawatū 14 (Fainga'anuku try, penalty try; Cameron conversion)
