A runaway 6-0 away win for Auckland City at bottom-placed Manawatu and a draw for Canterbury at Wellington has seen the northerners extend their lead in the national football Premiership to seven points.
A Chad Coombes hat-trick saw City up 6-0 at half-time at Palmerston North's Memorial Park while Team Wellington came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Canterbury United at Newtown Park in the capital.
Third-placed Waitakere United closed the gap on the Christchurch side with a 4-0 home win over Waikato FC at Fred Taylor Park in Whenuapai.
Hawke's Bay United went three points clear of Otago United into fifth with a 4-2 win at Bluewater Stadium in Napier.
