The Auckland Mitre 10 Cup team has put on their most impressive win of the season to date, running in seven tries for a bonus point 54-17 victory over Otago at Eden Park.

Rieko Ioane ran in another hat-trick while players right across the park showed the class and skill that had lacked at times this season.

While the team has been guilty of slow starts in recent matches that was not the case tonight, as Auckland showed plenty of intent in the early exchanges.

That intent turned into points. A big tackle from Vince Aso saw Otago lose the ball and Kurt Eklund toe it ahead.

Aggressive work at the break down forced the turn over and Rieko Ioane collected the ball and raced away for the first try of the match.

Simon Hickey converted, his first of 24 points in the match, for the 7-0 lead.

Otago replied immediately with a penalty to Fletcher Smith, at 7-3 it was as close as the visitors got.

Hickey sparked the next try, after the forwards got the team in good field position, he ducked under a would-be tackler to put Taleni Seu away for a try.

The conversion was good and Hickey followed up with a penalty to have Auckland in front 17-3 late in the first half.

There was plenty more action in the first spell, Melani Nanai put a chip kick through the line which Lolagi Visinia collected for a try, before scoring his own, racing 75 metres after some quick hands from Vince Aso and Pryor Collier.

Otago got the last say of the half, their forwards rumbling it up until Donald Brighouse found the try line.

Auckland went into the break leading 27-10, their best half time lead to date this season.

The second half continued in similar vein to the first, Hickey went over the white line for a try to open the half, converting his own efforts for a 34-10 lead.

A Scott Scrafton turn over led to an Ioane brothers special, older brother Akira setting up Rieko for his second of the match.

Two second half penalties to Hickey took the lead out to 47-10, Rieko Ioane later went over for his third, set up be a sublime break from replacement fullback Latiume Fosita.

Otago didn’t stop trying and were rewarded for their efforts with a try after the buzzer, final score 54-17.

The win takes Auckland to second on the table, if only until tomorrow’s matches. Simon Hickey tops the competition point scorers, and Rieko Ioane is the leading try scorer.

Auckland host Tasman at home on Thursday.

Auckland 54 (R Ioane 3, T Seu, L Visinia, M Nanai, S Hickey tries; Hickey 5 cons, 3 pens)
Otago 17 (D Brighouse, J Aoina tries; F Smith con, pen, S Eade con) Halftime: 27-10.