Mitre10 Highlights: Southland v Auckland (Round 3)

Auckland ran out 51-16 winners over Southland in round 3 of the Mitre 10 Cup. The first half was a tight affair as Auckland took a slender 9-6 lead into the break. Auckland scored early in the second half to build a ten point lead, but a penalty for Southland closed the gap to seven with 30 minutes to play. Two yellow cards reduced Southland to 13 men and Auckland capitalised crossing for their second try of the match. Despite being 2 men down it was Southland who scored next closing the gap to 23-16 entering the final ten minutes. The comeback was short lived as Auckland ran rampant in the final ten minutes, scoring four more tries with the Ioane brothers displaying pure class with ball in hand to round out an emphatic victory.