Bay of Plenty failed to match their historic victory over Wellington last week as they went down to Auckland in their latest NPC clash.
Last year's second division champions once again proved they would provide a stern test for all the top-flight sides and earned a bonus point for their troubles.
Eroni Clarke scored the game's only try and gave Auckland the perfect start. They won a scrum on the opposition five-metre after Glen Jackson threw a careless forward pass. Flyhalf Carlos Spencer dummied, and then found Clarke who was cutting back on the inside. The centre shrugged off two tackles and carried two defenders over the line.
Bay responded well with a good spell of pressure and came away with three points from the boot of Jackson. After half an hour Spencer kicked another penalty as the heavens opened and curtailed any hopes for some expansive rugby.
Shortly after the break Jackson kicked his second penalty and narrowed the deficit to four points, but that was the way it stayed until the end of the game.
In Whangerai, Canterbury began their NPC campaign on Saturday in convincing fashion by beating Northland 26-18, securing maximum points in the process.
Canterbury opened the scoring early in the game when, from a five-metre scrum, Aaron Mauger was put in at the corner.
Northland responded when Arlidge kicked a penalty after a good spell of pressure and scrumhalf Meyer added a try when he stole the ball from a Canterbury scrum.
Canterbury replied with a try from Nathan Mauger, who was able to go over under the posts after some good work from Sam Broomhall and Caleb Ralph.
Ben Blair added another try and conversion before Northland took a quick lineout in the Canterbury 22 that produced an easy try for Alridge, reducing the visitors' lead to 19-15 at the break.
In the second half Arlidge kicked a penalty to reduce the gap to one point, but Aaron Mauger's second try under the posts, converted by Blair, sealed the game for Canterbury.
In Albany, North Harbour bounced back from their opening round defeat to see off Waikato 25-6 in their NPC clash.
In a closely fought battle, Harbour were once again indebted for their inspirational openside flanker Matua Parkinson, as well as a strong performance from flyhalf Frano Botica to seal a deserved victory.
Waikato took the early lead with a penalty, but Harbour scored a converted try through starting flyhalf Willie Walker. Waikato closed to 7-6, but Harbour accelerated away in the second-half through a well-worked try by Parkinson and an intercept try by Rico Gear.
In Pukekohe, Southland and Counties Manukau played out to an exciting 24-all draw.
Southland scored three tries to their opponents' two, with Earl Va'a, Anthony Lafaiali'i and Corey Flynn crossing the to score for the visitors, and Casey Laulala and Blair Feeney touching down for the Steelers.
Feeney kept his side in the match by booting three penalties and a drop goal.
In a match played on Friday, Christian Cullen scored to tries to inspire Wellington to a 35-17 win away to Taranaki.