Auckland maintain lead in Air NZ Cup

Auckland slowly but surely ground out a 44-19 win that looked and felt good to captain Sam Tuitupou as they kept a firm grip of their lead in the Air NZ rugby competition today.

They scored six well-constructed tries against a stern and brave Southland defence to earn maximum points in Invercargill and stay at the top of the table after four rounds.

Apart from a few shambolic lineouts, Auckland looked like close to hitting top form, with openside flanker Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a scoring two tries.

Tololima-Auva'a pushed the bar even higher for positional play before making way for Daniel Braid to come off the bench. Braid, the team's No 1 opensider, is perhaps the best in the position in the competition at present.

"It's great to have two classy blokes in that position,' Tuitupou said.

"It (the win) feels good. We worked well all over the park."

Auckland had earned their bonus point for scoring a minimum of four tries when lock Kurtis Haiu crossed at the halftime buzzer and fullback Brent Ward converted it to make it 32-12.

First five-eighth Lachie Munro and Tololima-Auva'a (twice) had scored for Auckland earlier, with Munro's oozing class after he punted over the defence from the left touchline, chased and regathered from a kind bounce to cross.

Tuitupou scorched through the defence after taking the kickoff and both the forwards and the backs handled before winger David Smith enabled Tololima-Auva'a to cross for his first try in the 27th minute.

Tuitupou also featured in the lock's second try when he stole the ball off Southland midfielder Jason Kawau.

Southland first five-eighth Blair Stewart scored all of his team's points from a converted try and four penalties.

Auckland lock Troy Flavell was sinbinned in the 51st minute for punching and though Southland came close to scoring twice against 14 opponents, Auckland held on close to their line.

Auckland's sixth try was scored by replacement halfback Grayson Hart, a newphew of former All Blacks coach John Hart.