Payne inflicted on Manawatu

Northland cruised to a ten-try 77-8 victory over Manawatu in the ITM Cup on Sunday, with Jared Payne picking up four of his own in Whangarei.

In what was a record-breaking performance for the strong hosts, they ran riot at Toll Stadium with Crusaders back Payne impressing at centre.

Lachie Munro also starred with a personal tally of 32 points, which included two tries and ten kicks at goal for the full-back in a dominant team effort.

Marshalled by David Holwell, a dominant pack laid the platform for the veteran, who enjoyed picking holes in the disorganised visiting defence.

Number eight Day Pryor had opened the scoring after Munro knocked over three and Manawatu's Craig Clare had also kicked a penalty.

But then Munro found himself in the sin-bin following an altercation with flank Doug Tietjens which seemed to click Northland into gear. Holwell it was who slid one through for Payne, who showed his pace to extend the lead futher. Manawatu did respond before the break when Ma'afu Fia drove over for a try but in truth the game as a contest was ominous.

Rhyan Caine was then involved with Dan Pryor before the returning Munro combined with Payne and wing Bryce Heem that eventually saw the captain go over for a first-half brace.

A score of 30-8 at the break didn't look good for Manawatu and it got worse when an error at the restart saw Howell join the party with an individual effort.

And from then on it was a procession as Caine, Mark Burman, Payne and Munro put the icing on the cake.

More to follow...

The scorers:

For Northland: Pryor, Payne 4, Holwell, Caine, Burman, Munro 2
Cons: Munro 8, Holwell
Pens: Munro 2 Holwell

For Manawatu:
Tries: Fia
Pens: Clare

Northland: 15 Lachie Munro, 14 Simon Munro, 13 Jared Payne (c), 12 Aaron Bancroft, 11 Bryce Heem, 10 David Holwell, 9 Luke Hamilton, 8 Cameron Eyre, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Dean Budd, 5 Mark Burman, 4 Pat O'Connor, 3 Bronson Murray, 2 Mikaele Tuu'u, 1 Matt Wallis.
Replacements: 16 Tim Dow, 17 Ross Wright, 18 Roy Griffin, 19 Cameron Goodhew, 20 Rhyan Caine, 21 Iwi Hauraki,

Manawatu: 15 Craig Clare, 14 Casey Stone, 13 Shannon Paku, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Lote Raikabula, 10 Tomasi Cama, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Hamish Gosling, 7 Doug Tietjens, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Reece Robinson, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Rob Foreman, 1 Grant Polson (c).
Replacements: 16 Sean O'Connor, 17 Shane Kingsland, 18 Fraser Stone, 19 Mitchell Crosswell/Bertus Mulder, 20 Karl Bryson, 21 Isaac Thompson, 22 Asaeli Tikoirotuma.

Referee: Bryce Lawrence