North Harbour reign in the rain

North Harbour 22 Taranaki 13

Anyone wanting a classic at North Harbour Stadium last night should have brought along a George Orwell novel.

The rugby never stood a chance of being anything other than a slog in the mud now the dreaded monsoon season is upon us.

It rained and rained. If Noah had still been around, he would have been on the blower to the builders and urging the animals to pair off.

When you can see water splashing off the surface as players run, you know it is going to be a game for hoofing the leather off the ball and letting the forwards sort it out.

That was clearly Harbour's strategy. Greg Rawlinson took control at the lineout and in the loose.

The big South African reserves his best football for his union. He's never fully convinced at the Blues and his All Black appearances have been quiet.

But stick him in that Harbour jersey and it is easy to see why he wins so many admirers. He took control last night, frequently outsmarting and out-muscling fellow All Black Jason Eaton at the lineout. And he was the cement that bound some impressive driving mauls, two of which led to tries.

The second of those scores was crucial, coming after 74 minutes when Harbour were only 14-13 ahead.

It was not only crucial, though, it was a touch contentious. As the maul sploshed and splashed towards the tryline, it took a late change of direction towards touch. Prop Adrian Donald spun out and dived at the chalk, perilously close to the flag.

It looked tight but touch judge Steve Walsh said to referee Gary Wise "I'm happy if you are" and Wise gave it. Taranaki coach Kieran Crowley was a little perplexed.

"It may well have been a try," he said, "but I was surprised he didn't go upstairs. It was a critical moment."

Crowley wasn't offering a dodgy try as an explanation of where his side had gone wrong.

He's far too honest for that. He didn't hide from the fact a poor showing from his pack and some tactical naivety scuppered his team's hopes.

"Maybe we took the ball one phase too far before we put the kick in," he said. "But some of the tactical kicking was good and Brendon Watt's positional play was outstanding.

"But when they have a guy like Luke McAlister who can kick so far, you are always going to struggle to win a kicking duel."

It was smart rugby by Harbour. The forwards grafted for possession and Tusi Pisi and McAlister kept banging the ball downfield.

As Harbour coach Allan Pollock said: "We out-bored them."

Which wasn't strictly true. The foundation of the victory was the rugged work of the forwards and the adept use of McAlister's boot but there were some flashes of flair.

McAlister, who said he was delighted to at last start a game of football, made some strong surges with ball in hand, as did midfield partner Anthony Tuitavake.

On a dry day, the tricky footwork of McAlister and Tuitavake, as well as the power of young fullback George Pisi, might have cut Taranaki to shreds.

But in the sloppy wet, none of the dancers were really able to cut loose or give the finishing pass their support runners were after.

Pollock, though, knows yesterday was about winning, not entertainment. The expansive stuff can wait until the rain gods have been appeased, which hopefully for Pollock will come this week against Bay of Plenty.

Not only is he likely to have a full contingent of All Blacks once again, he will also have skipper Rua Tipoki returning from his 16-week ban.

North Harbour 22 (J. Hincho, A. Donald tries, L. McAlister 4 pens)
Taranaki 13 (A. Hore try; M. Nikora 2 pens, con).
HT: 8-3.