Lost in crosstown traffic

Auckland's Daniel Braid crosses the line in the tackle of Rudi Wulf at Eden Park last night. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Auckland 23 North Harbour 3

It wasn't pretty but Auckland were well worth the points at Eden Park last night.

For much of the match, it was grim going, neither Auckland nor North Harbour able to operate with any flow, both guilty of too many mistakes.

But Auckland's defensive security was impressive and by keeping the squeeze on Harbour's dangerous backs, laid the foundation for a win which will ensure they finish Air New Zealand Cup pool play at the top of group A.

A late try by replacement prop Chris Heard bulged the winning scoreline but Harbour offered little in a second half in which three players, Auckland's Saimone Taumoepeau and Harbour's Junior Poluleuligaga and Mike Noble, copped yellow cards.

In the first spell, both teams ignored the Kiss principle. Over-elaboration was costly.

At times the basic skills were dismal considering these are two of the top teams in the competition, one loss in nine games between them before kickoff and rating themselves decent final contenders.

There were moments when the teams seemed to try and out-botch the other. Some of the handling was hopeless, passes were misdirected and if nerves were in play, given the nature of this particular contest, they should have been gone well before the interval.

Most times an opening beckoned there was a snafu. Harbour burgled a tighthead, but Nick Williams knocked it on; Jerome Kaino was presented with a regulation pass in a gaping hole 40m from the Harbour line, and dropped it. It was that sort of half and frustrating all round.

Both teams had lineout wobbles but Auckland's scrum was significantly more stable and three times was able to put the heat on Harbour in the opening 10 minutes.

Harbour hit their stride late in the spell and finished the period much the better.

But they had to look at themselves in part for Auckland's 10 points.

Wing Vili Waqaseduadua was not urgent enough in clearing Tasesa Lavea's probing kick to the corner, his marker David Smith got up to force him into touch. From the resulting pressure, Brent Ward, who shot five from five, kicked a penalty.

Then Harbour won a lineout, but dropped the ball. Auckland, with Lavea prominent, pressed and created enough overlap on the right for industrious flanker Daniel Braid to squeeze inside the corner flag.

Harbour sharpened up as the half progressed and both Rua Tipoki and Anthony Tuitavake went close. But Tusi Pisi's easy penalty on the whistle was all Harbour had to show for it. Pisi should have kicked a second simple penalty early in the second half, but muffed it.

Overall, the second half was better but that wouldn't have been hard.

Jonah Lomu came on for the last 20 minutes to roars of appreciation from the modest crowd but had few opportunities.

Auckland 23: D. Braid, C. Heard tries; B. Ward 3 pen, 2 con.
North Harbour 3: T. Pisi pen.
HT: 10-3