Fullback Paul Williams scored two tries against his old side as the Auckland Blues overcame a 12-7 halftime deficit to beat the Highlanders 19-15 in their Super 14 clash on Friday.

Williams, making his first start for Auckland, scored a try in each half.

Auckland winger Rene Ranger, whom Williams displaced in the starting 15, came off the bench to score a try but was later sin-binned in a match punctuated by penalties.

Otago flyhalf Michael Hobbs scored his third try in two matches, while Israel Dagg also scored a try and kicked a penalty.

"We know how hard it is to come down here to Carisbrook - it's probably one of the toughest games in Super 14, so we're really delighted with the result," Auckland captain Keven Mealamu said.

Williams, son of the All Blacks great Bryan Williams, scored a try after only eight minutes during early Auckland domination.

The Blues worked an overlap on the right-hand flank and poor Otago defence gave Williams a try, converted from the sideline by flyhalf Stephen Brett.

Otago responded with a try to Dagg, engineered by James Patterson who made a sharp midfield break. Patterson's long pass to Dagg gave space to the talented fullback who crashed through tackles to score.

The Highlanders were superior in lineouts and scrums, and its disruption of an Auckland lineout led to Hobbs' try, as Auckland prop Tony Woodcock lost possession.

Williams scored his second try 12 minutes into the second half, when his clearance from deep defence was partially charged down by Otago but fell to Auckland players who had been put onside by the deflection.

Ranger scored four minutes later and Auckland led 19-12, a margin that survived late pressure from Otago.

"We had a great first half and we played pretty well but Auckland got a couple of soft tries in the second half," Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan said.

"Hopefully if we play like that again we'll get a win pretty soon."

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