North Harbour post third straight loss

Semifinalists a year ago, North Harbour appear to have plenty of work ahead of them after a third straight defeat in the run-up to the national domestic championship.

Having lost to Counties Manukau and Otago, Harbour went down 23-13 to Northland on Saturday.

Considering Northland have not won a championship match since 2002, there was plenty of delight in the Far North, and one up for last year's North Harbour assistant coach Mark Anscombe over his old coaching partner, Allan Pollock.

Northland bagged a couple of tries, to prop Stan Wright and wing Rene Ranger, with Josh Levi and Daniel Bowden kicking the other points. Harbour's only try went to flanker Regan Tamihere.

The biggest win in the Air New Zealand Cup warmup games over the weekend went to Wellington, 45-24 winners over Waikato in Hamilton. Wellington rattled in seven tries, three to Hosea Gear, while Waikato got three.

Canterbury beat Taranaki in a close contest in Christchurch, 19-14; Otago were too good for Southland, winning 19-6 in Dunedin; and Hawkes Bay maintained their strong pre-season form with an 18-13 win over Bay of Plenty at Mt Maunganui.

Former All Black Nathan Mauger got one of Hawkes Bay's two tries to make it three successive wins, after victories against Taranaki and Manawatu. Hawkes Bay kick off the competition, at home to Canterbury in Napier on Friday night.

Bay of Plenty and Waikato get a final chance to iron out any kinks in Hamilton on Saturday. They have the first round byes.