Auckland get NPC going on right foot

Auckland's Isa Nacewa leaves Zar Lawrence grasping at nothing at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday. Picture / Nigel Marple

Auckland 27 North Harbour 10

"That's more like it", would be Auckland's reaction to kicking off their NPC campaign in vastly different fashion to a year ago.

Then, they lost the Ranfurly Shield to Bay of Plenty on opening day and their season went into free-fall. But this was a convincing win over an error-prone North Harbour and set the platform for better things to come.

Considering they are Bridge rivals and Blues brothers, it was fitting that players grumpily pushed and shoved like warring siblings in a playground in the first half hour. But Auckland played with urgency and pace, tackled with some sting and threw up a sound defensive wall.

By contrast, Harbour made too many silly errors. It was appropriate that the final action of the game was their replacement first five-eighth Jon Elrick aiming to plonk a penalty into touch near the Auckland line, but instead putting his kick dead.

It was the second time North Harbour did it on the night. Throw in handling errors and bouts of indecision and it was a night to heed lessons for Allan Pollock's young team.

They had the occasional opening but could not capitalise. So did Auckland, who could have had double their three tries but bungled several gilt-edged opportunities, including two to late replacement back Jamie Helleur in the final minutes.

"I was very pleased with the attitude and work ethic of the guys," Auckland coach Pat Lam said. "But it's just a start. We've still got areas we need to improve on."

But several players hit the NPC running, notably backs Tasesa Lavea, whose organisational abilities were critical to the outcome and second five-eighth Isa Nacewa. No 8 Angus Macdonald shone in a hard-working loose forward trio, as did senior lock Brad Mika.

He was a dominant lineout figure and was rewarded for diligent support play with Auckland's second try three minutes into the second half, which was the first of two body blows for Harbour.

The second body blow came midway through the second half, shortly after flanker Brent Wilson had given Harbour a sniff, by completing tidy shortside work by halfback Junior Poluleiligaga and wing Zar Lawrence to get the hosts back to 10 points adrift.

New lock Kurtis Haiu, a hairdresser's nightmare with his unruly mop, won clean lineout ball, replacement halfback Taniela Moa slung it straight to Nacewa, who sped on an angle through a weak tackle to score and decide the contest.

Harbour captain Rua Tipoki worked overtime to inspire his team, who did have their moments.

When Poluleiligaga ran himself off the ruck, he was able to spark promising situations. Lock Greg Rawlinson frequently did outstanding work, and Harbour's scrum, while certainly not superior, was generally stable against a powerful Auckland eight.

Tipoki hopes the young Harbour players don't let their heads drop.

"Hopefully it doesn't knock their confidence, and they retain the belief in themselves. We've got some young guys who are talented but didn't get to show that. We just didn't fire."

By Pollock's assessment, 28 points make the semifinals, although Taranaki missed out with 29 in what he reckons was an aberration.

"We've six days to set ourselves for Wellington, and that will be the measure of this team. And we've got eight games to put 28 points in the bank."

Harbour - who had world rugby's most celebrated water boy in Jonah Lomu on Saturday night - have got a lot of work to do, but for Auckland it was a night to savour. The only blemish was injuries to Steve Devine and hooker John Fonokalafi. Devine had a cat scan after taking a blow to the head in the first half but has been cleared for next weekend. Fonokalafi had minor surgery yesterday for a laceration to an eye and is not expected to be available for the trip to Otago.