Taranaki sprung to life in the second half in their ITM Cup rugby match in New Plymouth scoring five tries to one to trounce Auckland 39-11 and claim the bonus point victory.
The game had looked destined to be decided by penalties with the score locked up at 6-all at half-time, but an inspired Taranaki blitzed the blue and whites with a stirring display of attacking rugby in the second stanza to climb to second in the Premiership standings behind Bay of Plenty.
The loss leaves Auckland languishing on the bottom of the table with just one win from four games.