First-five Dan Waenga saved his best game in a Bay of Plenty jersey for the biggest grudge match of the season in Rotorua last night.

In his 13th match for the Steamers since joining them from Hawke’s Bay last year, Waenga stepped majestically into the big boots left by departing star Mike Delany, as he helped Bay humble neighbours Waikato 36-8.

It’s Bay’s biggest winning margin in games between the Chiefs franchise partners and extended Bay’s lead at the top of the ITM Cup Premiership table.  They’re now eight points clear of Wellington and Auckland, the only unbeaten side in the division after three straight wins.

“We’re tracking along a lot better than we thought - points-wise, we’re sitting where we want to sit but to be at the top of the table like that is unreal for us,” Waenga said.

“We can’t remember the last time we beat a Waikato side like that and to do it here at Rotorua Stadium is unreal – the boys are just stoked.”

Waenga kicked 16 points for the home side on a chilly night at International Stadium and made several incisive breaks.

He set up both fullback Toby Arnold’s tries by bursting through the Waikato line, once in each half, and nailed two 50m penalties to keep the pressure on the visitors.

Bay of Plenty opted for height in their pack, starting lock Luke Andrews at blindside flanker, in one of nine changes from their win over North Harbour on Saturday. 

After disrupting the Waikato lineout effectively, coach Sean Horan then brought specialist fetchers Luke Braid and Sam Cane on in the second half, to pair with All Black openside Tanerau Latimer, and the trio snuffed out any chance of a Waikato fightback.

Waikato made nearly two dozen unforced errors as they were hustled and harried off the paddock.

“We probably played a lot of rugby whereas the Bay didn’t play too much but we were at the wrong end of the field,” Waikato skipper Nathan White said.  “We created a few good things but weren’t able to capitalise.”

A gutted White admitted Bay of Plenty’s enthusiasm shook them after having such a short turn around from the North Harbour match and the traditional power base in the region was beginning to shift.

“For nine months of the year, a lot of us are living together with the Chiefs and we’re all pretty good mates and know each other pretty well.  In these big games, you always want to get one over your mates but they probably did that a little better than us tonight.

“It’s starting to change a little bit I thing – there’s a fair few Super 15 players in their team now and only a sprinkling through the Waikato team.  There’s no little brother-big brother anymore.”

Waenga, meanwhile, still has to fight off the challenge of fellow first-five Chris Noakes, who impressed against North Harbour.

“The depth is definitely a lot better than last year and it’s creating some real competition for spots, which is keeping everyone on their toes.  With the competition so compact, it’s going to be the province with the best squad, not the best team. We’ve just got to refocus again, get the rehab right and build again for Wellington on Sunday. We’ve just got to tick all the boxes and keep building.”