KEY POINTS:
AIR NZ CUP
North Harbour 9 Canterbury 36
It was no wonder Sam Hunt could be seen returning to his seat before half-time with a bottle of wine and just one glass. For an artistic soul like him, there was precious little on view from which he could take creative inspiration.
Finding solace in wine was not a bad idea.
This was grim football. Not endearing - in the way aspiring youth can sometimes be - and not really forgivable.
There was just too much dross to see this as anything other than a time-slot filler.
Canterbury won, because don't Canterbury always win?
Or for a deeper analysis, they won because they were less awful than North Harbour.
The visitors had more counter-attacking spark.
They were that little bit more physical at the breakdown and that bit sharper in execution than the home side.
Much of their counter-attacking edge came from fullback Paul Williams, who must be a serious contender to travel with the All Blacks at the end of the year.
It was Williams who created the first try when he fielded a high ball, had a wee look, put the turbo thrust on and was flying through a hole
before Harbour could scramble back and stop him getting the try-scoring pass away to Isaac Ross.
There were other powerful intrusions from Williams and he looks a player to possess all that he needs to handle test rugby.
He hit the line late in the first half with a burst that saw him carve through Harbour's fragile defence and it was in that instant that he revealed the full extent of his genetic inheritance.
His fellow All Black hopeful, Kieran Read couldn't quite impose himself to the extent he wanted, but given his work-rate and his obvious effectiveness as a leader, the Canterbury captain will presumably be in the national mix come November.
Both men will be helped by the fact that Canterbury should push through to the late stages. While they were far from impressive last night, they had flashes of cohesion and if they can string a few more of those together they will be there or thereabouts.
The foundation stones are there - they scrummed well, were strong in the lineout and had tactical direction - but they just lacked precision.
The future isn't so bright for Harbour. Their commitment was there. Their passion was there. But the accuracy, the potency and the direction were missing.
North Harbour 9 (J. Gopperth 3 pens) Canterbury 36 (I. Ross, P. Williams, M. Paterson, J. Paterson (2) tries; C. Slade 4 cons, pen)
