Mitre 10 Cup

Eight days after being humbled 52-28 by Waikato, the Lions have outclassed Auckland 39-21, outscoring their hosts six tries to three.

Wellington took charge in the first half, with Vince Aso, Wes Goosen, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Billy Proctor and Pepesana Patafilo scoring tries to take a 29-14 halftime lead.

Aso then sealed the win with his second try late in the match.

New All Blacks squad member Caleb Clarke, Jonathan Ruru and Leni Apisai scored Auckland's tries.

The Mooloos have followed up their opening 53-28 win over Wellington with a bonus point 41-19 victory over North Harbour, also in Hamilton.

Harbour were never able to recover after falling 26-nil behind inside half an hour.

The visitors did score the last two tries of the first half to cut the deficit to 29-12 at halftime, but Waikato managed to keep North Harbour at bay in the second 40.

Waikato halfback Xavier Roe scored a first-half double, while Quinn Tupaea, Mitch Jacobson, Damian McKenzie and Valynce Te Whare also dotted down for the Mooloos.

The red and blacks have overturned a 22-21 halftime deficit to post a bonus point win.

All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor scored two of Canterbury's six tries, while new All Black Cullen Grace also dotted down.

North Harbour scored just two tries, one in each half, with first-five Bryn Gatland scoring 19 points with five penalties and two conversions.

Read, who hails from the South Auckland region and played his junior rugby with the Drury club, retired from the international game after last year's World Cup.

The 128-test All Black then signed on with Toyota Verblitz in Japan's Top League. He will play another season there in 2021 but before returning overseas has agreed to terms with the Steelers - a team he supported growing up.

"While I played a lot of my representative rugby in Christchurch, my roots will always be in Counties Manukau," the former Rosehill College student said.