NPC: Auckland win Battle of the Bridge

Auckland have maintained their play-off hopes with a 32-7 win over North Harbour in a one sided Battle of the Bridge in an NPC cross-over match.

North Harbour were searching for their first back-to-back wins since September 2010, but didn't make any impact till the final minute when Pita Ahki dotted down.

Auckland, who remain fourth in the Premiership standings, dominated large passages of the match at a wet and windy Eden Park, getting plenty of front-foot ball and producing some tight defence when called on.

They rounded off a solid performance with tries to replacement hooker Gafatasi Su'a and flyhalf Gareth Anscombe in the last six minutes to secure a bonus point.

Su'a got his try after a big run by wing George Moala before Anscombe showed some slick footwork to dot down.

Harbour, sitting bottom of the second-tier Championship, did manage the last say, midfield back Pita Ahki scoring a runaway try after the hooter from a rare Auckland error.

Openside flank Sean Polwart was impressive for the home side, who went into halftime up 11-0 on the back of Ben Lam's early try.

Lam's touchdown came after a patient attack of multiple phases.

There was also good continuity, and some slick handling despite the weather, when centre Hadleigh Parkes scored early in the second spell to make it a comfortable lead.

* Meanwhile Hawke's Bay will retain the Ranfurly Shield for at least another two weeks, after they defeated Bay of Plenty 36-17 in the Magpies second defence of their current reign at McLean Park.

There was plenty of emotion on display in a match that had one of the game's greatest trophies up for grabs, and the Steamers were far better value than the scoreline suggests, forcing Hawke's Bay to play a different style of game.

* In the final match on Saturday Manawatu set itself up for a home semifinal when moving to the top of the NPC Championship with a deserved 41-20 win over Southland in Palmerston North.

All Saturday's scorers and scorers:

Hawke's Bay 36-17 Bay of Plenty (RS)

Scorers:

Hawke's Bay:

Tries: Allardice, West 2, Tongia 2

Con: West

Pens: West 3

Bay of Plenty:

Tries: Nemani, Acton

Cons: Evemy 2

Pen: Evemy

Auckland 32-7 North Harbour

Scorers:

Auckland:

Tries: Lam, Parkes, Sua, Anscombe

Cons: Anscombe 2, Hickey

Pens: Anscombe 2

North Harbour:

Try: Ahki

Con: McGahan

Manawatu 41-20 Southland

Scorers:

Manawatu:

Tries: Tudreu, Bedwell-Curtis, Tudreu, Emery, Masirewa

Cons: Black 4, Te Rure

Pens: Black 2

Southland:

Tries: Dixon, Hardie

Cons: Sopoaga 2

Pens: Sopoaga 2