North Harbour stay near the top of the Bartercard Cup table after a comprehensive 42-18 win over Central Falcons at Mt Smart Stadium yesterday.
The Falcons played in patches, starting slowly, coming right when they enjoyed territory and possession to close up Harbour's early lead, then collapsing at the end.
Harbour fullback Pinomi Tafea opened the scoring after seven minutes with a good turn of pace.
Central replied at 16 minutes when lock Ricky Thorby was offered a huge hole 10m from the line. He skipped through, looking around for the cover defence as if he couldn't believe his luck.
It was a boost for Harbour and from there they put on points at regular intervals, left centre Shaun Metcalf next in then right centre Stu Heslop securing a double with simple draw-and-pass football. They were up 22-6 at the break.
Wing Tui Samoa scampered down the left flank for first points of the second half at 43 minutes to suggest the Falcons were gone. But that try sparked them and they spent the next 20 minutes in Harbour's territory, forcing repeat sets of six and earning two good tries to Benson Tupou and Quentin Raruku. Haisley Robson's conversions brought them back to 28-18.
And then it was as if the fuel ran out. The Falcons had a chance to score but mistakes turned the ball over and Harbour took it 100m and put Samoa across again.
The Falcons ran bunched, one-out football to end what had been a much better performance.
Harbour put Samoa in for his hat-trick and five-eighth Jeremy Golf closed it out.
