It was classic flanker play - following up and not relinquishing his duties until the whistle had blown and earned Latimer a five-pointer in his first NPC game.
The conversion, meanwhile, was less opportunistic and far more sentimental. Up stepped utility forward Paul Tupai in his 115th and last game for the union, minutes after scoring a try in a brilliant 20-minute cameo.
He barrelled over from a maul with four minutes to play as the Northland defence withered to nothing.

``All the guys in front did all the work for my try - I just ended up falling over,'' Tupai said. ``But I had to work for the conversion. It was right out in front with a nice toe-hacker, just like the old days.''
Luckily Latimer's try was right under the posts - Tupai had waved away the chance to convert his try because it was 20m to the left.

``I had to turn down the first one because it was a bit too far away for me. I knew we were going to get another try to finish it off though - it wouldn't have looked good with two conversions next to my name.''
And thus marked the end of an era, when the last remnants of Bay of Plenty's decade in the second division departed.
Tupai and captain Wayne Ormond, who also had an outstanding match, signed off after 10 and six years with the province respectively, the last two players to have played during Bay of Plenty's tenure in the second division from 1992-2001.

In the context of that milestone, the eight-try walloping of Northland seemed the perfect way to farewell the ghosts of this season and of seasons past.
The Steamers finished eighth in the NPC this year, their poorest result since 2002 when they played the promotion-relegation match.
But Tupai, heading overseas later this month, was confident this season was just a blip.
``It was always going to be hard to match last season. This year has been a good growing step for a lot of the young guys and next year they're really in for a good season.
``There are a few key players going but I think we've got the young fellas to back that up, to fill in those spots.

``The Bay will always have heart and that's one thing that other teams can't match us with.''
Another departing player, halfback Kevin Senio, did his All Black Grand Slam tour prospects no harm with two good tries as the Steamers ground the winless Taniwha out of the match before breaking free.
Wing Apoua Stewart also scored twice, while fullback Hayden Reid was outstanding on defence and made a couple of telling breaks.
Once again though, the tight five could take a collective bow. They have rarely been outplayed this year and prop Ben Castle and lock Mark Sorenson in particular can reflect on a consistently classy season.

The challenges are many before the new-look NPC premier division kicks off next year but at least the Bay can go into summer with smiles on their faces. At least until the Super 14 squads are announced anyway.
And Paul Tupai departed with his first points for the union in nearly four years, including two that no one ever thought he'd get.
``It's just topped off a good 10 years of Bay rugby. It's sad to leave but it's been a good era for me and it's time to move on.
``Rugby's got to move on but the people who do play for the Bay will keep staying loyal and keep that pride in the jersey like we did.''