Rugby: Turbos topple Taniwha

Nathan Tudreu scored a double as Manawatu eased past Northland. Photo / Getty

Manawatu 42
Northland 17

Manawatu broke their duck and extended Northland's own winless streak with a commanding performance in Palmerston North today.

The two teams came into the clash without a win between them and, anchored to the bottom of their respective divisions in the ITM Cup, the misery was set to ease for only one.

And from the moment Manawatu ran in the third of their six tries in the 17th minute of the match, the home side looked far likelier to chalk up a maiden victory in 2015.

The Turbos have struggled so far this season after being promoted to the Premiership, losing their opening five games and racking up the second-worst points differential (-95) in the competition. But considering Northland were the only side with an uglier mark (-110), today was always going to represent a golden opportunity.

It was an opportunity Manawatu set about seizing in the opening quarter, taking complete control of the game with three well-worked tries. Their attack was doing the basics well but also demonstrated a clinical streak that rendered them a threat from all over the field.

A slight decrease in accuracy and intensity allowed Northland to creep back into the contest on the stroke of halftime, when Dan Pryor finally found a hole after his teammates pushed and probed repeatedly at the Turbos' defence. But the try proved nothing but a false dawn as Manawatu resumed their patient approach and eventually reaped the rewards with three second-half scores.

Manawatu 42 (Masirewa, Tudreu 2, Bedwell-Curtis, Alaalatoa, Mapapalangi tries; Black 5 cons, Malcolm con)
Northland 17 (Pryor, Thomas tries; Hawkins 2 cons, pen)
HT: 21-7