KEY POINTS:
Northland notched their second Air New Zealand Cup rugby win in as many weeks with a 45-24 victory over wooden spooners Manawatu at Whangarei yesterday.
The win moves Northland into ninth place on the table, and leaves them with an outside chance to make the quarter-finals providing they beat sixth-placed Auckland next Sunday.
Northland celebrated Friday's news of their cup reprieve with a six-try win, running in three tries in each half and looking always to have Manawatu's measure.
The New Zealand Rugby Union Board has said Northland and Tasman - last month earmarked for demotion to the Heartland championship next year - will remain in the 14-team competition for at least two more years.
At Okara Park yesterday, both teams picked up a bonus point in a match that featured a plethora of tries and showcased plenty of free running as well as plenty of errors.
Ahead 24-7 at the break, with tries to hooker Francis Smith, lock Dan Goodwin and halfback Brenton Helleur, Northland looked comfortable, controlling play at the breakdown and making the most of some ineffective Manawatu defence.
Manawatu lifted their game in the second spell but Northland's lead was never seriously threatened.
- NZPA
