For the second week running, Waikato featured in a spectacular game of NPC rugby, in the end proving just too good for Wellington at the Westpac Trust Stadium on Saturday evening to triumph 49 - 35.

As in Hamilton the week before this game had everything, and All Black coach John Mitchell, if he is serious about looking at taking a different All Black squad on tour from the one that won this year's Tri Nations, will be delighted. Second five Keith Lowen has returned to the sort of form that made him an All Black squad member in 2001 and will again be a strong contender for a tour place. Alongside him, rookie Regan King continues to impress , his elusive running and eye for the gap making him a dangerous attacking weapon. Fly half David Hill, one of the forgotten men of 2002 because of injury, only appeared for the final 30 minutes but in that time reminded everyone why he went on tour with the All Blacks in 2001.

Up front, Royce Willis is in the sort of form that makes him one of the best locks in New Zealand and his partner Keith Robinson is improving in leaps and bounds. Opensider Marty Holah again had a storming game , his relatively inactive mid-season meaning that he is fresh at the moment.

For Wellington, Christian Cullen showed some of his old zest , Tana Umaga and Pita Alatini the class we have come to expect of them. No8 Rodney So'oialo is enjoying a wonderful season and must be on Mitchell's wanted list.Collectively, the Lions showed the sort of form they demonstrated as the Hurricanes to overturn the Brumbies in Canberra earlier in the year. Rather than the form they demonstrated against Southland three weeks ago.

The first half contained some scintillating rugby after a hesitant opening period. Waikato made the better start, tries from Lowen ( 2 ) and Bates threatening to overwhelm Wellington. But they replied with four of their own before the break, each of them absolute gems as Fa'atau, Alatini, Umaga and Cullen cut open the Waikato defence. Indeed , the NPC First Division leaders looked bedraggled going into half time, trailing by 22-30 and with Wellington seeming to have seized the initiative.

But Wellington could manage only one further score in the second period, a tremendous effort from Spice after So'oialo had made good ground, as Waikato marched towards the five points and the consolidation of their league position. Time and again backs and forwards combined thrillingly, Lowen , King , Willis and Holah often to the fore, to stretch the Wellington defences on both flanks.Three further tries came their way as King notched up his own double and Hill made his mark. As has been his habit this season, Bruce Reihana again proved deadly with his kicking, although his colleagues considerately remembered to score their five-pointers close to the sticks.

In the final analysis , another wonderful exhibition of total rugby, expertly refereed by Aucklander Glenn Wahlstrom, whose farewell assignment this was. Waikato stay at the top , heading for an unbeaten season. It will take a good team to beat them, perhaps only Canterbury at their very best are capable of doing so.

Scorers :

Wellington : 35 : Tries : Fa'atau, Alatini, Umaga , Cullen, Spice . Conversions : Flutey ( 2 ). Penalties : Flutey ( 2 ).

Waikato : 49 : Tries : Lowen ( 2 ), King ( 2 ), Bates, Hill. Conversions : Reihana ( 5 ). Penalties : Reihana ( 3 ).