Ben Lam scored a brace of tries as Auckland brushed aside struggling Manawatu in the first half and went on to secure a 45-28 ITM Cup victory on Wednesday.

Winger Lam, George Moala and prop Jono Owen went over before the break, with 15 points coming from the boot of Simon Hickey as the home side stormed into a 30-7 lead at half-time.

Captain Callum Gibbins scored Manawatu's solitary try of the opening 40 minutes and, although Valentino Mapapalangi, Semisi Masirewa and Fraser Stone crossed for the visitors in the second half, they were unable to avoid a fifth defeat out of five.

Rieko Ioane scored the last try of the match after Lam had come up with another five-pointer as Auckland moved up to third.