Rugby: Shore favourites to break 10 year drought

Wayne Shelford. Photo / Herald on Sunday

North Shore, coached by Wayne Shelford, will be trying to break a 10-year drought when they meet Silverdale in today's final of the North Harbour premier club rugby championship.

Shore, founded in 1873 and the oldest rugby club in Auckland, won the last of their four Harbour titles in 2001, but since have the frustration of being beaten in finals in 2002, 2003, 2008 and last year by Northcote.

Despite the overlap of representative commitments which have taken several players, Shore probably enter today's final as slight favourites.

They won both qualifying rounds, having lost only once and last weekend were in imposing form in the semifinals against Western Pioneers.

They will have one representative squad member, Lance Hamilton, available at half-back, and two others with recent representative experience, Hayden Abercrombie and James Hincho, will provide invaluable leadership.

Abercrombie in particular has successfully filled in as goal-kicker for the prolific Ben Botica, one of the players lost to the Harbour ITM Cup squad.

Silverdale won the Harbour championship for the one and only time in 2003 under the present coach Charlie McAlister and with one of this year's side, Andrew Gowling, as halfback.

Only McAlister's son Luke has been lost to representative duty, but the former All Black has had little involvement in club rugby this year.

Silverdale loom as formidable opposition to Shore, and also had a beneficial semi-final match, a thrilling win over Massey.

They also have experienced players in Gowling, a regular Harbour second XV representative, and two former representative players, Mikaele Tuu'u and Ryan Wilson, in the pack.

The final will be at the North Harbour Stadium, kicking off at 4.15pm.

East Coast Bays and Northcote will play in the plate final at 12.45pm.