Southland broke a sequence of four ITM Cup losses with a record-breaking display which had Manawatu scrambling in Invercargill, despite posting their first win last week.
Southland's 35-point margin in the 49-14 win is the most they have achieved in the provincial history between the sides. A neutral viewer could be forgiven for mistaking who was in the Premiership (Manawatu) and the Championship (Southland).
The hosts were clinical at the lineout and in the opposition 22 on the way to six tries. The visitors slipped off too many tackles, enabling Southland to create space and feed elusive outside backs like try-scorers Mike Molloy and Kieran Moffat. Manawatu missed 11 tackles compared to Southland's two in the first half alone.
Southland's lineout put on a Rugby Park exhibition which wouldn't have looked out of place at the Louvre, such was its artistic merit. Josh Bekhuis was the key protagonist, stealing Manawatu throws and sealing their own ball for the most part, while hooker Brayden Mitchell produced perfect parabola throws in his return from a rib injury.
He was removed with a head knock after a punishing tackle early in the second half. What replacement Dillan Halaholo lacked in lineout accuracy, he made up for with robust contact work.
Manawatu blindside flanker Heiden Bedwell-Curtis and first-five Otere Black showed promise but both were handicapped by back foot ball. Black blotted his effort with a feeble attempt to prevent Lima Sopoaga's try in the second half. Bedwell-Curtis' intercept try was a highlight. His pace held off the best Manawatu's outside backs over 60m.
In essence, the visitors failed to treasure the ball. Southland opensider Tim Boys made sure of that at the breakdown in another powerful display which further cemented his provincial stalwart reputation.
Manawatu continued their rare record of converting each of their 24 tries this season, but still haven't kicked a penalty.
Southland 49 (M. Molloy, T. Boys, K. Moffat, W. Halaholo, L. Sopoaga, T. Tuimavave tries, Sopoaga 4 con, 3 pen, S. Eade con), Manawatu 14 (H. Bedwell-Curtis, R. Foreman, tries, O. Black 2 con). Halftime: 22-7.
