Auckland edge past Northland

Auckland claimed their first win of the season with a 10-8 victory over Northland in a low-scoring game at Eden Park on Saturday.

Auckland climb above Counties-Manukau into fifth position in the Premiership on five points while Northland remain in third position in the Championship also on five points.

Despite enjoying less of the possession and territory, Auckland took a 10-3 lead in to the interval courtesy of Kurt Eklund and a Jono Hickey penalty after Peter Breen had given the home side an early lead with three points from the tee.

Jono Macilai scored for Northland to set up a tense finale but Auckland held on for the win on home soil.

The scorers:

For Auckland: 
Try: Ecklund
Con: Hickey
Pen: Hickey

Northland: 
Try: Macilai
Pen: Breen

Auckland: 15 Jordan Trainor, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 George Moala, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Jono Hickey, 8 Blake Gibson, 7 Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray, 6 Samuel Slade, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 1 Sam Prattley
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Isi Tu’ungafasi, 18 Dexter Fa’amoana, 19 Ben Nee-Nee, 20 Josh Kaifa, 21 Leon Fukofuka, 22 TJ Faiane, 23 Otumaka Mausia

Northland: 1 Howard Sililoto, 2 Matt Moulds, 3 Namatahi Waa, 4 Tim Bond, 5 Murray Douglas, 6 Jack Ram, 7 Kara Pryor, 8 Dan Pryor, 9 Sam Nock, 10 Peter Breen, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Tamati Tua, 13 Jack Goodhue, 14 Rene Ranger, 15 Matt Wright
Replacements: 16 Jordan Olsen, 17 Ross Wright, 18 Ropate Rinakama, 19 Joshua Goodhue, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Malcolm MacLeod, 22 Dan Hawkins, 23 Jone Macilai