Northland 33
Southland 23
Northland rolled back the years with a scintillating victory over competition leaders Southland last night.
While the Taniwha have earned plaudits for their attacking play this season, it was their gutsy determined defence, especially in the second half, that sealed the bonus point win.
Rene Ranger underlined his All Black credentials with a dynamic display, touching down once and setting up two others. Dean Budd and Pat O'Connor stood out in a non-stop effort from the Northland pack, as they fought to subdue the unrelenting Southland pack.
Coach Bryce Woodward gave his Northland side top marks.
"With an ounce of luck this season we could have been top of the table. We are not but we have taken a lot of confidence from those performances and it showed tonight."
It was Northland's first victory over the Southern men since 2006, and just their third win of the season.
Coach Dave Henderson admitted Southland were "not quite there mentally", after three weeks on the road and a tough match against Tasman.
Southland dominated possession and territory but were undone by unforced errors. Before last night, they had conceded only an average of one try a game but the Cambridge Blues made the most of their crumbs of possession.
They remain probably the most entertaining side to watch, the running of Ranger and Jared Payne bought back memories of the Going brothers and Norm Berryman; their locks threw cut-out balls and one-handed passes and fullback Lachie Munro produced the longest pass on a rugby field since Jonah Lomu threw American football style bombs in Hong Kong.
Northland scored three tries in the first 20 minutes, and despite the inevitable Southland fightback, the home side never looked like being headed.
On a sunny afternoon, Northland knocked on from the kickoff and the Stags spent the next five minutes inside the Taniwha half, a Robinson penalty being their only reward.
Southland ran the re-start inside the 22, but Ranger scooped up an errant pass and dotted down out wide.
Six minutes later, flanker Dan Pryor swooped on a Scott Cowan mistake from a ruck near halfway to double the lead. And Southland looked rattled; Robinson blew the next kick off but Ranger knocked on. Moments later the No. 14, who spent the game at centre, made amends.
Ranger's ability to feed his outsides has come under scrutiny but Graham Henry would have been nodding in approval as he flew down the left sideline before deftly slipping the ball to Payne who dotted down untouched in the corner.
The Southland backs tried some lovely moves - but well behind the advantage line. The forwards took the onus upon themselves.
After Jamie Mackintosh was held up over the line, fellow prop Chris King muscled over; three minutes later a tighthead scrum on halfway saw Southland bust through and eventually the ever-impressive Mackintosh burrowed over.
Northland spent most of the second stanza in their own half, though they did score one of the tries of the season. From a lineout win in their own 22 Ranger sliced the Southland midfield wide open, stepped the fullback at pace and, as the cover converged, squeezed the ball to Payne, who eluded the grasp of two defenders.
Northland 33 (R. Ranger, D. Pryor, J .Payne 2 tries; L. Munro 3 pens, 2 cons), Southland 22 (C. King, J. Mackintosh 2 tries; R. Robinson 2 pens, 2 cons). Halftime: 20-15
