• Auckland record a bonus-point victory against Southland
• Desma Liaina and Adrian Choat both grab tries on debut
• Auckland next face North Harbour on Sunday

Auckland have taken another step toward a home semi-final and finishing the round-robin in first position after a comprehensive over Southland this evening in Invercargill.

Southland were first on the board in the cross-over clash through the boot of first-five Tayler Adams and were looking more than prepared for an 80 minute battle.

Auckland found a way through however, with Salesi Rayasi claiming the first try of the match after streaking away without anyone touching him after a strong counter-ruck spilled the ball free at the back of a Southland ruck.

Rayasi was back in the action soon after when Tumua Manu was able to exploit the extra man out wide to put his winger in the clear before he was dragged down centimetres from the line. Fa’atiga Lemalu was on-hand to crash over from the resulting ruck.

Auckland went into the sheds with an 11-point buffer over the home side, and they didn’t wait long to extend that margin in the second-half. Mike Sosene-Feagai the beneficiary of a superb Auckland rolling maul and another Harry Plummer conversion saw the blue and whites go out beyond two converted scores.

Auckland had found their groove and were straight back down in the Southland red zone. Sustained attack and effort at the Southland line on the back of two penalties finally saw Tumua Manu split the Stags line courtesy of beautiful flat ball from Jonathan Ruru.

Sosene-Feagai once again found his way over the line in the 63^rd minute off the back of an Auckland drive at lineout time. His score putting the game beyond the reach of the home side.

Southland were able to grab their first and only try of the match through front rower Joe Walsh late in the piece, but this was cancelled almost straight away by Caleb Clarke who gathered a favourable bounce from a Daniel Kirkpatrick cross-kick to streak away.

Desma Liaina and Adrian Choat rounded off the night’s proceedings with each player grabbing a try on debut.

Auckland back-up on Sunday against North Harbour in the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ with a home semi-final and the top spot in the Mitre 10 Cup on the line.

Auckland 56 (S Rayasi, F Lemalu, M Sosene-Feagai 2, T Manu, C Clarke, D Liaina, A Choat tries; H Plummer 5, D Kirkpatrick 3 conversions)

Southland 8 (J Walsh try; T Adams penalty)

(Halftime: 14 – 3)