Waikato fullback Matthew Lansdown has personified his team's high-flying season this afternoon after getting them off to the perfect start in a big Mitre 10 Cup win over Northland.
Waikato took sole possession of top of the Championship table after dismantling the Taniwha 71-28 in Whangarei today with the visitors scoring in the opening minute of the contest thanks to Lansdown's aerial efforts.
The fullback soared to take a high kick with the sun in his eyes just inside his half, managing to beat a challenging Northland player in doing so.
Lansdown span out of the contact and instantly fended off another tackle to break into Northland's back field to start a counter attack.
From there, the fullback just had to find support and got it in Bailyn Sullivan, going to a draw and pass to set up his centre who scored in the right corner.
Northland managed to reply 11 minutes later with Rene Ranger to briefly take the lead but Waikato replied with five unanswered tries before halftime to take full control of the match.
With the win, Waikato reclaim a five-point lead over Hawke's Bay in the race for promotion while Northland sit fourth in the same tier with four wins in nine games.
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