Auckland have made an impressive start to the new national provincial rugby championship season.
Auckland winger AJ Lam scores one of his three first-half tries against Canterbury. Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport Ltd 2021
They have recorded a 35-24 bonus point win over Canterbury in the final match of the opening round at Eden Park.
Auckland dominated the first-half to lead 25-3 at the break, after a hat-trick of tries from winger AJ Lam.
Canterbury scored the next three tries of the match to cut the deficit to four points with seven minutes remaining.
But Auckland captain Harry Plummer sealed the win and secured the bonus point by scoring their fourth try in the 76th minute.
Earlier Tasman opened their premiership title defence with a 27-14 win over Bay of Plenty in Tauranga.
The Mako pulled away after trailing 14-13 early in the second-half.
Experienced hooker Quentin MacDonald scored both of Tasman's second-half tries after second-five Timothy O'Malley dotted down for the Mako in the first half.
Halfback Luke Campbell and centre Sean Wainui scored Bay of Plenty's tries.
Meanwhile, Waikato have recorded a bonus point 28-15 victory over North Harbour in Albany.
Waikato trailed 8-0 inside 10 minutes but then scored the next 28 points of the match.
Winger Mosese Dawai scored a try in each half for the visitors, with hooker Sekope Lopeti-Moli and flanker Mitch Jacobson scoring their others.
Fletcher Smith converted all four of Waikato's tries.
Veteran halfback Bryn Hall and replacement back Moses Leo dotted down for North Harbour.
