History once more plays its part in Battle of Bridge

By WYNNE GRAY

Rugby archivists, statisticians and trivial pursuiters will always dig for facts, figures and links between local rivals Auckland and North Harbour.

They can add several other details today when the teams contest the Brian Purdy Battle of the Bridge Memorial Trophy.

Purdy was involved with Harbour, the Blues and the NZRFU before his death this year.

A trophy in his honour is being organised and eventually will sit on a base collected from parts of the Harbour Bridge. It will be presented to the winning captain at Eden Park tonight.

The unions first met in 1986 when Harbour, then in the second division, challenged Auckland for the Ranfurly Shield and were beaten 18-6.

Finding links between the original two teams and the present day gets more difficult each year.

Present Harbour assistant coach Gary Cunningham did not play in that game because of injury, and Auckland coach Wayne Pivac missed selection for Harbour as a loose forward.

But his Auckland assistant coach Grant Fox played at first five-eighths and Iain Abercrombie, Auckland chairman and nominee for the NZRFU board, was hooker for the blue and whites.

Sky commentator John Drake was tighthead prop for Auckland that day and many originals from both teams will be in the Eden Park crowd tonight. One will be watching his son.

In his only season for Harbour, former All Black lock Gary Braid played in that first match against Auckland. Tonight he will watch his son Daniel play as flanker for Auckland.

Harbour are still hoping they can get Matua Parkinson into action after recent back trouble.

A decision on whether he or Craig Newby starts has been left until today.

Braid, a 21-year-old, has been chosen by Pivac as Auckland's openside flanker, with Justin Collins switched to the blindside this season.

The forward battle received some spice with Harbour able to select Troy Flavell after his lengthy spell out with knee problems.

Auckland will want to play with some width because Harbour look to be most vulnerable in their back four.