Auckland scrambled victory against Manawatu in the ITM Cup on Sunday, scoring two tries in four minutes to break the Turbos' resistance at FMG Stadium in Palmerston North. Auckland then used their superior scrum power to ensure their hosts could not rebuild a platform to claim their first victory over the visitors since 1981.

Manawatu took advantage of shoddy Auckland play, typified by costly mistakes from fullback Lolagi Visinia that gifted the Turbos two converted tries, to claim a six-point margin at half-time.

In the 10th minute, Visinia made a dreadful attempt to catch a ball in his own 22, knocking on, and Manawatu and Melbourne Rebels scrum-half Nick Stirzaker scored a try around the blindside of the ensuing scrum. Visinia then stripped the ball from Stirzaker short of the line, after the half-back had been put into space by Tomasi Cama, only to see it dribble over the line where the Turbos winger was untroubled to touch down.

Auckland scored only three penalty goals in the first half, by Simon Hickey, but they charged ahead after a midfield scrum in the Manawatu 22 10 minutes into the second stanza, George Moala chiming into the line to set up a ruck from which Patrick Tuipulotu went across for the first try. Hadleigh Parkes then wriggled through a gap to take play back into Manawatu's 22, where Malakai Fekitoa continued the attack and Sean Polwart scored from another ruck.

Manawatu went close to scoring in the 60th minute, but Auckland powered out of a series of scrums close to their line to clear the danger and the Turbos failed to threaten thereafter.

No.8 James Oliver produced a strong game for Manawatu, and locks Michael Fitzgerald and Fraser Stone were competitive in the tight. Auckland second five-eighthsTevita Taufu'i ran the ball hard and Jade Te Rure was an effective general.