Counties Manukau eased their relegation fears and kept their ITM Cup Premiership Division finals hopes alive with a 42-33 home bonus-point win over Tasman at ECOlight Stadium. 

The hosts ran in five tries to beat second-place Tasman and claim a victory that sees them leapfrog Waikato into fifth place, five points behind defending champions Taranaki - who visit leaders Canterbury on Sunday - in the last finals spot.

Meanwhile bottom side Manuwatu are only a point behind Waikato following a comfortable 31-17 defeat of Championship side North Harbour.

Manawatu trailed 17-7 with 30 minutes remaining but two tries from Callum Gibbins - sandwiched by a score from Newton Tudreu - saw the hosts turn things around thanks in part to Alex Woonton's yellow card for North Harbour in the 61st minute.

In the Championship, Otago surged into fourth place with a 61-7 hammering of Southland.

Otago led 20-7 when Southland prop Jamie Mackintosh was sent off for striking Otago's Hisa Sasagi. His dismissal effectively ended the game as a contest and allowed Otago to ease to a record win over Southland.

The triumph puts Otago four points clear of Southland with a game in hand.