Flying Fijians shine in Northland's win

9.30pm

NORTHLAND 49 BAY OF PLENTY 23

Fijians Rupeni Caucaunibuca and Vula Maimuri were the stars as Northland finally delivered a match-winning performance by thrashing Bay of Plenty in an NPC first division rugby match in Whangarei tonight.

Caucaunibuca scored a scorching try and was in impressive form throughout while Maimuri emerged as the foundation of a stoic forward effort.

It was Northland's first win in seven games this season, the result has added new dimension to what is looming as a two-way battle with Southland to avoid the wooden spoon this year.

Scoring six tries to two, it was a performance that had wrested a huge burden from the shoulders of the embattled Northland side.

And it has all but set up a do-or-die play-off with Southland in Invercargill in two weeks to decide who will be forced to defend their first division status in a promotion-relegation match to finish the season.

Down 10-13 at the break, it appeared as if Northland were still struggling for confidence against an efficient but one-dimensional Bay of Plenty unit.

A try to hooker Alex Lutui and kicks from first five eighths Glen Jackson gave the visiting side the edge on top of a series of turnover balls and lost lineouts from Northland.

But the second half saw a transformation that Northland supporters had been waiting for all season.

Off the field went the hesitant Northland at halftime, out of the tunnel for the second spell came a confident, controlled team who rattled in five tries to add to the one scored by fullback Rhyan Caine in the first spell.

The 36-point second-half haul for Northland even included a 46m penalty goal by stand-in skipper Hayden Taylor.

But the most spectacular moments came from Caucaunibuca and Maimuri.

Caucaunibuca showed all his speed, strength and agility in a 65m sideline burst to the line that took Northland from 16-23 to 21-23, 17 minutes into the second half.

Maimuri emerged as the player of the match with a series of bone rattling tackles and physical charges that slammed Bay of Plenty into reverse.

Following Caucaunibuca's five-pointer, Caine got his second try four minutes later after a burst from centre Jason Hita and a kick and chase to the in-goal.

Northland rode the winning horse home with three tries in the last 12 minutes, scored by halfback Lee Peina, winger Fero Lasagavibau and Taylor.

Northland 49 (Rhyan Caine 2, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Lee Peina, Fero Lasagavibau, Hayden Taylor tries; Taylor 3 pen, 5 con)

Bay of Plenty 23 (Aleki Lutui, Dave Duley tries; Glenn Jackson 3 pen, 2 con)

Halftime: 10-13.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)