Auckland win the Battle of the Bridge

Auckland went across to North Harbour and in the pouring rain won 29-13 in ITM Cup action on Sunday.

Tony Woodcock did not play for North Harbour because he may possibly have tweaked a hamstring. Isaia Toeava played quietly for 63 minutes.

They are two Test players who could well head for South Africa with the All Blacks for their last pre-announcement match in Port Elizabeth.

Harbour were their own worst enemies yet again as errors bit them.

Ben Botica gave Harbour the lead with a penalty goal but then lost their own line-out which resulted in a try for Chris Lowrey. 5-3 to Auckland but then Botica kicked his second penalty goal, to which Gareth Anscombe answered with one for Auckland. 8-6. That did not last long as Harbour went through phases for Irwin Finau to score the try.

The half-time score was 13-8 to Harbour. Harbour did not score in the next 40 minutes.

From close in Steven Luatua got a try for Auckland and clever play by Toeava made a try for George Moala and then Anscombe got one as Auckland pulled further and further away.

Meanwhile, in Sunday's other ITM Cup clash, Waikato beat Counties Manukau 22-15 in Pukekohe.

Out-of-favour All Blacks first five-eighth Stephen Donald booted five penalties and one conversion as Stade Français-bound hooker Aled de Malmanche got a good send-off from the Mooloo Men.

The teams were level at 9-9 at half-time in this Chiefs 'derby' match.

Scores and scorers:

North Harbour 13 Auckland 29

The scorers:

For North Harbour:
Try: Finau
Pens: Botica 2

For Auckland:
Tries: Lowrey, Luatua, Moala, Anscombe
Cons: Anscombe 3
Pen: Anscombe

The teams:

Auckland: 15 I Toeava, 14 B Ward, 13 H Parkes, 12 T Stanaway, 11 G Moala, 10 G Anscombe, 9 T Morland, 8 C Lowrey, 7 S Polwart, 6 N Hughes, 5 J Katene, 4 S Luatua, C Faumuina, 2 T McCartney, 1 P Manu.
Replacements: 16 A Dixon, 17 T Mailau, 18 L Moli, 19 B Masoe, 20 A Mathewson, 21 P Francis, 22 J Rokocoko, 23 A Ta'avao.

North Harbour: 15 N Tuitavake, 14 W Walker, 13 B Watt, 12 R Wulf, 11 B Botica, 10 C Smylie, 9 M Luamanu, 8 B Wilson, 7 M Ravulo, 6 J King, 5 A Boric, 4 M Reid, 3 B Afeaki, 2 J Parsons, 1 J Afoa.
Replacements: 16 M Mayhew, 17 I Finau, 18 B Helleur, 18 S Uren, 19 L Hamilton, 19 D Raikuna, 20 P Ahki, 21 T Vea, 21 M Field, 22 A Woonton, 23 C Smith.

Referee: Glen Jackson

Counties Manukau 15 Waikato 22

The scorers:

For Counties Manukau:
Pens: Kerr 5

For Waikato:
Try: Talakai
Con: Donald
Pens: Donald 5