Waikato brought Auckland’s unbeaten NPC rugby run to an abrupt halt, running in six tries to four in an up-tempo win at Rugby Park in Hamilton on Saturday.

The win is just their second from six starts, built on a vastly improved defensive effort, and pushes them up into fourth on the premiership ladder

Waikato blindside flanker Rory Grice opened the scoring after six minutes with a well-taken try set up by wing Semisi Masirewa’s pace down the left.

Rookie halfback Brad Weber notched up Waikato’s second seven minutes later when he exposed Auckland’s lazy defence at the breakdown with a jinking run.

Ahead 14-0 after 13 minutes, Waikato eased up and skipper Hadleigh Parkes sliced through to haul one back for Auckland into the wind.

Waikato’s response was swift: winger Tim Mikkelsen reclaimed the restart, and good support play was well finished by first five-eighth Wharenui Hawera.

Auckland showed what they were capable of when they finally managed to string some phases together, and giant lock Patrick Tuipulotu crashed over on the half-hour mark

It took only two minutes for the home team to respond, Grice’s storming run up the middle setting up Masirewa for the bonus try and a 28-12 Waikato lead at halftime.

Both teams were slow to find momentum in the second spell, but replacement Auckland winger Vince Aso kickstarted a flurry of action with his 55th minute try out wide.

Weber capitalised on an Auckland mix-up at the back of a defensive scrum for his second four minutes later, then Liaki Moli barrelled over for Auckland’s bonus point try on 63 minutes.

Fullback Trent Renata, whose slotted all six of his kicks on goal, crossed for Waikato’s sixth soon after to wrap up their first win since an opening round 31-22 win over Northland in August.