North Harbour 19 Southland 17
KEY POINTS:
Watching North Harbour play has been an excruciating experience at times this season.
Having tried and largely failed to tempt the local populace to North Harbour Stadium by extolling the merits of the team, the province's marketing gurus hit on a brilliant new strategy for the visit of Southland last night, giving every child a plastic air horn.
Strangely, the incessant din of what sounded like several hundred wounded ducks dropping out of the sky did little to enhance the viewing experience.
But, for those able to tear themselves away from the more satisfying pastime of chasing down and strangling small children, there was actually some action on the field worth enthusing over.
Neither side set the world on fire but it was a tense enough affair, with Southland halfback Jimmy Cowan scuffing a drop goal attempt in referee's time that could have sealed a dramatic comeback.
Southland went into the match riding a five-game winning streak and boasting a pack that was expected to dominate in the tight.
But after an exchange of aimless tactical kicks, it was Harbour who seemed to dominate.
Southland did their best to disrupt things at the breakdown but they were quickly discouraged by referee Gary Wise, who presented Harbour fullback Jack McPhee with three early shots at goal, the first two of which he nailed.
Blair Stewart answered back with a penalty goal for Southland but Harbour's first half dominance was rewarded when hooker James Hinchco drove over from a perfectly executed lineout drive.
Harbour were perhaps the more threatening in a match that produced precious little in the way of running rugby but the bonus point victory that would have put Harbour in pole position to claim the eighth and final playoff spot never looked likely.
Southland fullback James Wilson crossed four minutes from time for a try that Stewart converted to cut the gap to two but Southland lacked to composure to complete the comeback.
The win took Harbour to 22 points, four clear of both Taranaki and Northland. A bonus point victory to either of those sides will end Harbour's season.
Northland, who play Waikato today, would seem to have the tougher task, while Taranaki will fancy their chances of five points against Counties Manukau tomorrow.
North Harbour 19
Southland 17
