Auckland gained a measure of compensation for their loss last weekend to Taranaki and their dramatic, last-minute defeat in this fixture last year with a comfortable 34 -16 in Whangarei on Friday evening.

The highly-rated Northland pack was expected to take the game to the Aucklanders, but the visitors seized the initiative early on and never really relinquished it. Spreading the ball wide at every opportunity, they stretched the Northland defence, skipper Xavier Rush making huge inroads time and again to get his side going forward. The home side, who desperately needed a convincing performance after their loss in Dunedin to Otago, did not help their cause by wasting possession with aimless kicking and poor tackling.

By the 10th minute Auckland had two tries on the board, Mealamu burrowing over from close range and Spencer scything through to the line after Rush had run straight through the middle of the Northland defence. A couple of penalties from Going just about kept his side in touch before a Spencer penalty and a cleverly worked try saw Tanivula catching a well -weighted Spencer cross kick to dot down. Trailing 20-6 at the interval , Northland needed to re-group and come out to score the first points of the second half if they were to have any chance.

They did so when Fijian winger Fero intercepted an attempted Auckland break out on their 22 to score unopposed. Going's conversion reduced the gap to just seven points and set up the possibility of a pulsating second half. But it was not to be. Norhtland huffed and puffed and got some muscular forward drives going, but a combination of stout defence and lack of variation from Glenn Taylor's men saw all the effort come to nothing. A couple of Eroni Clarke tries , after 50 and 75 minutes , sealed the five points for Auckland .

So Auckland achieved what they set out to do and eased some of the pressure that had built up on them since last weekend. Northland coach Bryce Woodward will be bitterly disappointed with his side's performance. They were disorganized and disjointed, sadly lacked cohesion and looked desperately short of class in many positions. Time to wield the axe or return to the drawing board. Wield the axe on the drawing board , perhaps ?

Scorers :

Northland : 16 Try : Fero Conversion : Going Penalties : Going ( 3 ).

Auckland : 34 Tries : Clarke ( 2 ), Mealamu, Spencer, Tanivula Conversions : Spencer ( 3 ) Penalty : Spencer

Teams :

Northland : Hayden Taylor, Fero Lasagavibau, Jason Shoemark, Robbie Johnson, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Jared Going, Sam Pinder, Tim Henwood, Allen Tubbs, Brett Waaka, Glenn Taylor ( captain ), Vula Maimuri, Con Barrell, Derren Witcombe, Mike Storey.

Subs : Jason Hammond, Bronson Murray, Brad Taylor, Aaron Wright, Brent Dale, Lee Peina, Regan Finch, Jason Hita.

Auckland : Carlos Spencer, Justin Wilson, Eroni Clarke, Tane Tuipulotu, Iliesa Tanivula, Lee Stensness, Steve Devine, Xavier Rush ( captain ), Daniel Braid, Justin Collins, Ali Williams, Bradley Mika, Kees Meeuws, Keven Mealamu, Nick White.

Subs : James Christian, Scott Palmer, Bryce Williams, Craig de Goldi, David Gibson, James Arlidge, Sam Tuitupou.