Northland’s season of woe continues

8.00pm


NORTHLAND 15 NORTH HARBOUR 37

Northland's NPC first division season sunk to a new low with a lacklustre 15-37 loss to North Harbour in their bottom-of-the-table clash at Albany today.

It will take a major effort for the winless Northlanders to avoid the wooden spoon. With four rounds remaining, they will be at least six points behind their nearest rivals and, on today's form, will struggle to make up ground.

North Harbour dominated possession and should have won by more. They managed four tries to snare a bonus point and 17 points from a perfect goalkicking display by impressive first five-eighth Nick Evans meant they were never in danger of losing.

Lively South African halfback Chad Alcock scored tries for North Harbour at the start of each half while their others went to flanker Matua Parkinson and second five-eighth Andrew Mailei.

Up 34-8 just 10 minutes into the second half, the home side threatened a giant winning margin but appeared to ease up as the game went through the motions in the closing stages.

Northland were reckless when in possession and missed far too many tackles. They have conceded more than 30 points in all their five games this season.

However, they scored arguably the best try of the game when hooker Tim Dow brushed past four tacklers in a 55m burst late in the first half.

Their other try was a late score to left winger Matt Faleuka.


- NZPA

NPC points table