Counties Manukau registered a convincing 58-10 in its fourth-round Farah Palmer Cup match at the University Oval on Saturday.
Right winger Michaela Baker and second five-eighth Greer Muir combined to get the Spirit off to the best possible start in a move that saw Muir score under the bar in the opening minutes.
Muir’s try was the first the undefeated Counties Manukau conceded this season.
The home team maintained its lead until the 18th minute when it began to fall off tackles and yield to the Counties Manukau powerful and well-oiled forward pack, which took control of territory.
Despite an even share of possession, Counties Manukau’s dominance of territory was reflected on the scoreboard with a succession of five tries, to give it a 31-10 lead at the break.
The pattern continued from the restart with No8 Krystal Murray scoring the second of her three tries on the opening minute, and left winger Langi Veanu capping off a top-class game, scoring soon after.
Minutes later, Murray burst through a frail-looking Spirit defence to score her third for the day.
The restart from Otago summed up its day.
The ball went skywards and carried just 2m before bouncing into touch.
Counties Manukau scored two further tries early in the final quarter, taking its game tally to 10.
Otago displayed some resolve in the final 10 minutes.
It made some rare incursions into opposition territory, only to be let down by handling errors and the defensive qualities of its opponent.
Possession statistics remained even, but it was an inability to get out of its own half that ultimately confirmed the Spirit’s fate.
Loose forwards Angie Sisifa and Georgia Mason excelled at lineout time for Otago, while out wide, Baker and Muir combined well to make the best of their opportunities.
Farah Palmer Cup
The scores
Counties Manukau 58
Krystal Murray 3, Aroha Savage 2, Renee Wickliffe, Te Kura Ngaa-Arengamate, Arihana Marino, Langi Veanu, Ariana Hira-Herangi tries; Hazel Tubic 4 con
Otago Spirit 10
Greer Muir try; Megan Manson con, pen
Halftime: Counties Manukau 31-10