But it was a very competitive effort from a barely recognisable Otago Spirit team.
Auckland claimed a 39-15 win in yesterday’s Farah Palmer Cup game at the University Oval.
However, it required three late tries to pull away, after Otago cut the deficit to five points midway through the second half.
It was a new-look Spirit team, injuries having ravaged a young team, but it battled bravely, and many of the youngsters made strong impressions.
Otago defended with vigour and forced mistakes from Auckland, and on attack it forced the visiting team to infringe regularly to keep it out.
For 60 minutes, Otago was every bit Auckland’s equal.
Left winger Oceana Campbell was electric all day. She broke the line several times, forcing the Auckland defence to scramble and putting Otago into several scoring positions.
Her intercept early paved way for fellow winger Keely Hill, who was dangerous in space herself, to score in the right corner and give the Spirit a 7-0 lead.
Auckland hit back, and a try to blindside flanker Tafito Lafaele, combined with the boot of Ruahei Demant, gave it a 13-7 lead.
However, errors were plaguing its game and it struggled to create opportunities against a determined Otago defence.
When Campbell went over in the corner, she brought the Spirit back to one point behind.
Another run from Campbell deep into the Auckland 22m gave Otago a chance to take the lead just after the break.
Auckland infringed four times keeping the Spirit out, and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u was yellow-carded.
However, Otago was unable to take advantage.
While turning down an easy shot at goal yielded the yellow card, it was unable to score.
In fact, Auckland did, when second five-eighth Sylvia Brunt sauntered through a gap off a scrum.
Otago halfback Maia Joseph chased her down in a brilliant effort, but Lafaele scored her second a few phases later.
The Spirit continued to fight and Sheree Hume kicked a penalty to close the gap to five. But eventually the pressure told.
Otago was unable to control the ensuing kickoff and Maia Roos crashed over to make it 27-15.
Late tries down the left wing to Princess Elliot and Lafaele gave Auckland breathing space.
