The Otago forward pack put in a superb effort to secure a convincing victory over a misfiring Northland.
The visiting front eight was hungry, efficient at the set-piece and never stopped in its work at the breakdown after leading 22-7 at the break.
Otago coach Steve Martin paid tribute to his forward pack, saying it took a big step up from last week.
"We felt if we could dominate the set-piece then we could take the game away from them.
"If we could do that and show a bit more patience with theball then the chances would come," Martin said.
"We were able to convert the chances we created a bit better this week. We stressed this week at training the need to not go too wide too early."
Martin said the side wanted to punch the ball into the corners then back its line-out, and that plan worked well.
Otago dominated the line-out, winning ball seemingly at will from its own throw and from Northland's.
Such was its dominance that Northland opted for a scrum instead of kicking for touch to get an attacking line-out midway through the second half.
Tom Donnelly, Adam Thomson and Hayden Triggs had great games in the air.
The Otago scrum was rock solid, with tighthead prop Sam Hibbard and Kees Meeuws, on for an injured Ben Nolan early in the match, having fine games.
The Otago loose forwards benefited from the good work of those in front of them.
Thomson scored two tries, a fitting reward for a fine effort, while his captain, Alando Soakai, got round the paddock and was strong on defence.
Number 8 Paul Grant also looked lively.
Otago could have won by more, as it had more than 60% of the possession and plenty of territory, but it took some wrong options and Northland defended stoutly to prevent the score from blowing out in the second half.
Nolan left the field with a rib injury, while Triggs also had an early shower after sustaining slight damage to his ribs.
Otago was slow out of the blocks, and Northland blindside flanker Joel McKenty broke the line and fed flying fullback Jared Payne, who sped 30m to score a five-pointer after just two and a-half minutes.
Lachie Munro added the extras, and Otago looked shell-shocked.
But it regathered and replied within five minutes.
After a couple of phases the ball went to centre Ryan Shortland, who sped around Munro and dotted down in the corner. Otago went ahead after 12 minutes.
Halfback Sean Romans ducked through a gap near the back of a line-out from 30m out.
When he was tackled he fed Soakai, who was stopped just short of the line.
Thomson was on hand to receive the pass and dive over.
Thomson had his second after 25 minutes.
Otago pressed from a 5m scrum and second five-eighth Aaron Bancroft fed Thomson, who could not be stopped from a couple of metres out.
Fullback Ben Smith appeared to score a try after five minutes in the second half but was ruled to have been held up. He could not be stopped 12 minutes later when Otago scored a well-constructed try to secure a bonus point.
It moved the ball to the middle from a line-out, set up a ruck then went back the other way and Smith went over after good work by winger Fetu'u Vainikolo.
Chris Noakes added the conversion from the sideline.
Out the back for Otago, Shortland ran well, while Smith grew as an attacking threat.
Northland was outplayed and needs to go back to the drawing board as it prepares for its trip next week to Southland.
Otago 29 (Adam Thomson 2, Ryan Shortland, Ben Smith tries; Chris Noakes 3 conversions, penalty goal), Northland 7 (Jared Payne try; Lachie Munro conversion).
Half-time: 22-7.
• A perfectly executed try from winger Zac Guildford clinched a 28-26 win for Hawkes Bay over Tasman in the teams' Air NZ Cup match in Napier last night, NZPA reported.
Guildford crossed with barely three minutes left on the clock, just as Tasman looked like holding on for a win after leading 17-16 at half-time.
Hawkes Bay 28 (Jason Shoemark, Zac Guildford tries; penalty try; Matt Berquist 2 conversions, 3 penalty goals), Tasman 26 (Mark Bright, James Kamana tries; Andrew Goodman 2 conversions, 4 penalty goals).
Half-time: 16-17.
