Coach gives Taniwha a pass mark after solid first hit-out

Keeping ball in hand was top priority for Toll United Northland as they went down 7-10 to North Harbour yesterday at Kaikohe.
The pre-season first-class match provided coach Bryce Woodward and assistant coach Blair Larsen the perfect opportunity to gauge where they sat - and there was plenty to work on, said Larsen.
"It's our first real hit-out and it's given us a lot to think about," said Larsen.
But with a wealth of players to return to the fold from injury, he gave the side a solid pass mark.
Those involved in lineouts, however, will have to stay after school.
North Harbour kept a clean sheet on their own throw, causing the Northland pack to rethink plans and not compete. But when Northland hooker Mikaele Tuu'u had the ball, the new-look lineout handed over possession time and time again.
"They'll get better," promised Larsen, adding that he expects it to  gel once it's up to full strength.
The loss on the scoreboard, he said, was of little importance - a factor supported by first-five Lachie Munroe turning down four easy penalty chances in favour of kicking to the corner.
But there were also plenty of positives, said Larsen, singing the praises of a front row of Justin Davies, Tuu'u and Karl Haitana that pushed the opposition around until halftime, before wholesale North Harbour changes made a big difference.
Larsen said there'd be hours of video analysis to be done, but on first impressions he was more than satisfied with Northland's effort in competing at the breakdown.
Matt Clutterbuck at  openside flanker was all over the park, as was Cameron Eyre from the back of the pack. The pair, along with a strong backline defence, provided little room for North Harbour to move - none better than second-five Derek Carpenter with some stoic hits.
Halfback Luke Hamilton also put his hand up, with darting runs from the base of the scrum and it was his solo effort that got the first points on the board.
The visitor's backs were caught offside twice after five minutes, and Hamilton seized on some poor marker defence to take the quick tap and go across unchallenged from 10 metres out. Munroe converted for the early 7-0 lead.
But that was the end of the scoring for the home side, despite a 1200-strong crowd right  behind them.
North Harbour replied with a Ben Botica penalty to trail 7-3 at the break, but with a number of fresh visitors' legs on the park the tide turned.
Even the hard running of early second-half replacement Rene Ranger couldn't produce cohesion for a Northland backline that really did look like it was their first outing. North Harbour had the benefit of a match under its belt.
Up against a tiring Northland pack, they kept it in tight, picking and going until  replacement James Afoa scored. Michael Harris converted, 7-10.  The game opened up towards the end,  but Northland  turnovers at crucial times thwarted any efforts.