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Glen Dickson - Source: Photosport -
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Otago sunk the North Harbour ship even further into oblivion with a 52-25 ITM Cup whipping at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Otago, who registered their third win of the season to stay well in contention for promotion to the Premiership next season, ripped the Harbour defence to pieces in scoring seven tries in a game that at times resembled a training run.
North Harbour threatened to make a comeback either side of halftime when they closed the score to 27-17 but that was just a blip in what has been another woeful season.
The North Shore boys are still winless in 2012 and will need a small miracle if they are to register a 'W' this season.
Lacking belief and tackles to boot, they made far too many turnovers to ever be a threat tonight and were punished by a side who were bolstered by the return of Ben Smith and Tamati Ellison.
And while both fringe All Blacks made a sizable impact, the real stars were Japanese halfback Fumiaki Tanaka, who controlled the game with ease, and flanker Gareth Evans who got the scoreboard ticking over with a try from an Otago rolling maul after just seven minutes.
Smith and Ellison combined for the blue and golds second try before Buxton Popoali'I showcased the best sidestep in New Zealand to make it 22-3 after just 22 minutes.
A bonus point try was in the bag unbelievably after just 35 minutes when winger Marshall Suckling went over in the corner.
Tries to halfback Bryn Hall and Viliame Fihaki got the visitors briefly back into the game but from there it was nearly all one-way traffic as Evens, Rob Verbakel and Glenn Dickson iced the win.
Harbour scored a late try through replacement hooker Manu Leiataua but that was little consolation for a side who will now be eagerly eyeing the end of the season.
In the meantime they will try and give their campaign a semblance of credibility when they host Southland on Saturday while Otago will try and keep their momentum rolling when they host Tasman in a crucial Championship clash on Sunday.
Otago 54 (Gareth Evans 2, Ben Smith, Buxton Popoali'i,
Marshall Suckling, Rob Verbakel, Glenn Dickson tries, Dickson 3
con, 2 pen, Hayden Parker 2 con, 1 pen)
North Harbour 25 (Bryn Hall, Vili Fihale, Manu Leiataua
tries, Hall 2 con, 2 pen)
Halftime : 27-10