Big names help North Harbour to upset win

North Harbour's Junior Poluleuligaga scores a try during the first half of the NPC match between North Harbour and Wellington tonight. Picture / Fotopress

Two of the most elongated names in NPC first division rugby cut short the more fancied Wellington as North Harbour ran out 29-16 winners tonight.

Winger Viliame Waqaseduadua bagged two tries while halfback Junior Poluleuligaga snared one and was a standout figure with his sniping runs in a error-filled match at Westpac Stadium.

A fourth try to winger Zar Lawrence with 20 minutes remaining sealed the match and a bonus point for the visitors.

They finished their opportunities better in an evenly fought affair played in blustery winds.

North Harbour's tactics of cutting the ball back into the forwards through inside passes worked well against an aggressive defence, with their ball retention better than Wellington's, along with their tight driving play.

North Harbour No 8 Nick Williams was a dominant figure with ball in hand in the second half, matching the influence of opposite Thomas Waldrom in the first spell.

Luke McAlister did not help his chances of replacing the injured Daniel Carter as All Blacks first five-eighth against South Africa next weekend with a mixed display.

A couple of nice bursts and clean hands were blended with a four-from-six goalkicking record, some defensive misses and ill-directed kicks for North Harbour.

Wellington prop Neemia Tialata gave his team ascendancy at scrum time but their lineout was patchy and they struggled to produce clean second phase ball.

The scoring opened when an incisive break by North Harbour fullback George Pisi set up Poluleuligaga in the eighth minute.

It was matched five minutes later when new Wellington captain Ma'a Nonu broke through a McAlister tackle to send over first five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth, who scored all his side's points.

A Gopperth penalty gave Wellington their only lead of the game after 30 minutes but the visitors went to the break 14-10 ahead courtesy of Waqaseduadua, whose try was set up by a clever crossfield run from centre Anthony Tuitavake, which drew three defenders.

New Zealand sevens squad member Waqaseduadua scored his second try 10 minutes after the break, stumbling through several half-tackles on an angled 40m run to the corner.

Gopperth nailed penalties either side of that to keep the hosts within sight of the lead but their attacking forays came to nothing after that while Lawrence's try and a late McAlister penalty secured North Harbour a deserved win.

North Harbour 29 (Vili Waqaseduadua 2, Junior Poluleuligaga, Zar Lawrence tries; Luke McAlister pen, 3 con)

Wellington 16 (Jimmy Gopperth try; Gopperth 3 pen, con) .

Halftime: Harbour 14-10.

- NZPA