Rugby: Northcote carry form over Takapuna into Harbour club final

Bryn Gatland's goal-kicking promises to be a factor, when his Takapuna club takes on Northcote in the North Harbour final. Photo/Photosport

Northcote might just be slight favourites in tomorrow's North Harbour premier club final, but opponents Takapuna carry the pedigree.

Into their first decider since 2010, Northcote won in that year and in 1989-90 under the coaching of Brad Meurant. They are top qualifiers in a very even 2017 competition and have locked the Les Pearce Memorial Shield away in their Birkenhead clubrooms.

Takapuna, conversely, are third qualifiers and have secured their place in the decider with a tight 21-18 semifinal win over 2016 champions Massey. They are grateful to Bryn Gatland, who kicked six penalty goals and a pot, while the westerners scored two tries.

But Takapuna have been here before, runners-up last year and with 12 Harbour titles to their credit in a 16-year stretch from 1994-2009, plus two Gallaher Shields in Auckland. They know about pressure rugby.

Northcote have won the two clashes this season, 33-31 and 19-16, but were edged 41-39 in last year's semifinal. It would be presumptuous to expect anything other than a tight tussle at QBE Stadium tomorrow.

Northcote coach, and former Auckland and Waikato first-five Brett Craies says he has had to make some tough selection calls in his match-day 22, and they have drawn on the club depth throughout the season.

"The boys aimed to make the top six and then the top two, so it's pretty pleasing to be unbeaten at home and make the big dance," Craies says. Northcote edged East Coast Bays 21-19 in their semifinal, thanks to a late clutch penalty goal by replacement Ben Searle.

"Bays missed a few shots at goal and we won't be able to get away with that with Bryn Gatland kicking," says Craies.

Fullback Nick Smith is one of the few Northcote men to experience a club final, having played a starring role for Auckland club Pakuranga, when they won the 2013 Gallaher Shield.

Some fine young backs, such as halves Sean Law and Jack Bergin, and wing Peter Hurst, complement an industrious pack, led by skipper Ryan Thompson, and Harbour and Blues No 8 Murphy Taramai, who has been great value this season.

Searle offers experience and a slightly different skillset to Bergin off the bench, while replacement Tyler Golightly is a promising prop.

"If we play like we can, we back ourselves," says Craies. "If we don't, we know they are better.

"I think it'll be tight. It's about being on for 80 minutes and we used 79 of them last weekend."

He is also mindful of not conceding penalties within range of Gatland, who will take the kicks ahead of second-five Jon Elrick. The latter suits up for his 202nd premier game and has 190 points to his name in 2017, but is slightly restricted, when kicking, by a recent hamstring issue.

A lot of old boys have sent messages wishing Northcote well, including Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall, whose twin brother Blake is at centre. Nic Mayhew of the Brumbies is a good Northcote man, while the likes of Ron Williams, Richard Kapa and Richard Turner all featured in the great 1989-90 era.

Takapuna look a solid, seasoned squad. The Elrick brothers were there when they last won the lot in 2009, as was coach Blair Urlich, a former Harbour loose forward, who is hoping there will be no extra time, as there was in the dramatic 2016 season climax.

After losing hooker Vyron Smith to a knee/ankle issue, former Waikato rake Steven Misa, signed by North Harbour, has stepped into the void to good effect, but was injured in the semifinal and will miss the decider.

Blues reps James Parsons and Matt Duffie are good Takapuna club men, but are unavailable for the match, due to their stand-down period after Super Rugby duty.

The likes of captain and rep lock Shane Neville, and Harbour loose forward Josh Tyrell will lead the way in the pack, while Junior Tofa-Va'a, Nathan Cargo and Jamie Williamson can be potent finishers out wide. However, Urlich says the side may have to rein in some of their attacking instincts to fit the occasion.

"Finals footy is different," he says. "All year we've tried to play expansively and scored a lot of tries.

"We lost a couple of games because of that, but it's about getting into the final and winning that final.

"If we have a chance to kick a goal, we'll kick the goal and I'm sure they will too."

One would imagine the Hurricanes will follow suit tonight.

There is always a bit of byplay when anointing the favourites for a final, but Urlich is clear on his views.

"It's on Cote's shoulders - they finished top, they've beaten us twice. It will come down to whether we can shut down what we think they'll do."

The match represents a chance to break the recent Massey-North Shore dominance in North Harbour club rugby.

The only discordant note is the fact that the premier season is over in under four months, a relatively short season even for the average club player.

Northcote: Nick Smith, Filimoni Waqainabete, Blake Hall, Peter Hellesoe, Peter Hurst, Jack Bergin, Sean Law, Murphy Taramai, Nick Regal, Ryan Thompson (c), Zach Clarke, Danny Drake, Tony Tu'ungafasi, Courtney McCarthy-Henderson, Aston Pickens
Reserves: Luteru Tolai, Tyler Golightly, Jason Hayward, Connor Maddix-Wikaira, Dwayne Polataivao, Ben Searle, Shae Tucker

Takapuna: Nick Elrick, Junior Tofa-Va'a, Nathan Cargo, Jon Elrick, Jamie Williamson, Bryn Gatland, Sam Hall, Martin Brink, Josh Fraser, Josh Tyrell, Shane Neville (c), Francois Marais, Teancum Kahaki, Shaun Buchan, Sione Finau
Reserves: Michael Uhi, Brad Leuila, Scott Houston, Kane Jacobson, Jon McCarthy, Levi McBirney, High Christey