Harbour sneak slender victory

By CHRIS RATTUE

Hostilities proper will take place when the NPC begins in a fortnight.

But Auckland and North Harbour traded some decent blows in their warm-up match on Waiheke Island yesterday to a backdrop of gorse, and to the aroma of the sort of food you would struggle to find at your average city stadium.

North Harbour prevailed 14-13 thanks to some Carlos Spencer flamboyance, and generosity, on fulltime.

North Harbour had made their intentions clear: they wanted the victory. Frano Botica, who came on in the second half, missed a 40m straight penalty but then landed an angled effort to give his side the one-point lead going into the final five minutes.

But after Auckland launched a late attack, Spencer took a quick tap instead of the simple goal. End of story.

A crowd of about 4000 found their way to the Onetangi sports ground, many of them spread on the gorse-covered hill that overlooks the field.

For the first half, Auckland coaches Wayne Pivac and Grant Fox perched themselves on this hill to get the best view of proceedings.

Harbour edged to an 8-3 advantage by halftime, with the difference a Rico Gear try created by runs from his fellow midfield back Rua Tipoki and loosie Matua Parkinson.

Auckland got their nose in front midway through the second spell, after a double change in the halves when the Ponsonby pair of Kevin Senio and Carlos Spencer replaced Ben Meyer and James Arlidge.

Senio and Spencer had been key players in Ponsonby's Gallaher Shield triumph over Otahuhu 24 hours earlier - the halfback ripping out long passes to Spencer who ran the show in the Eden Park final.

On Waiheke Island, Senio made an immediate impact with a burst from a ruck for a try which took Auckland to a 13-11 lead, which they later surrendered via Botica and Spencer.

Both sides would have had plenty to admire in a high-quality trial game. But they also know the real contest has yet to begin.