James Mortimer    28.Jul.2012Getty Images

Taranaki has successfully negotiated their first Ranfurly Shield challenge of 2012, defeating King Country 67-15 at Inglewood.

The Amber and Blacks didn't have their strongest squad available due to Investec Super Rugby duties, but were still too good for a gallant but outclassed King Country.

Taranaki scored ten tries in total, with wing Waisake Naholo and reserve back Kurt Baker scoring a brace, while first five-eighth Jack Cameron scored 22 points.

In lovely conditions Taranaki led 31-6 at halftime, with King Country crossing the try line in the second half thanks to an intercept try from Paul Olsen.

Taranaki: 15 James Marshall, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Willie Rickards (captain), 12 Isaia Tuifua, 11 Avon Lewis, 10 Jack Cameron, 9 Kylem O'Donnell, 8 Mitchell Brown, 7 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 6 Kane Barrett, 5 Leighton Price, 4 Nemia Soqeta, 3 Willie Ioane, 2 Timo Tutavaha, 1 Carl Carmichael.

Replacements: 16 Laurence Corlett, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Berny Hall, 20 Jamison Gibson-Park, 21 Jayden Hayward, 22 Kurt Baker.

King Country: 15 Kurt Strachan, 14 Semeli Koniferedi, 13 Luke Draper, 12 Tanner Vili, 11 Paul Olsen, 10 Sean Cressy, 9 Himona Knowles, 8 Beau Taylor (captain), 7 Hamish Alabaster, 6 Jimi Hona, 5 Kurt Houghton, 4 Carl Alcock, 3 Brian Mansfield, 2 Nick Rule, 1 James Ritchie.

Replacements: 16 Sam Holder, 17 Dion Adams, 18 Jake Hiriaki, 19 Rob Sherson, 20 Ben Draper, 21 Jamie Maarhuis, 22 Dean Church.