North Harbour 20
Manawatu 17
KEY POINTS:
North Harbour have made a habit of tight matches this season but at least yesterday they finished on the right side of the ledger against Manawatu.
No more than seven points have separated the teams each time Harbour have played and yesterday they edged out a Manawatu side left contemplating a game they could and should have won.
Manawatu led 17-15 after 66 minutes when wing Lote Raikabula scored a converted try near the goalposts but North Harbour No 8 Viliame Ma'afu scored the decisive try, his second of the match, soon after to hand the visitors the win.
Manawatu finished strongly, in much the same way as they had played for most of the match, before an infringement at the breakdown enabled North Harbour to kick the ball to the sanctuary of the sideline.
Both sides kept the ball in hand, leading to a match full of sweeping movement, but the game lacked fluidity due to a high error count.
Manawatu were enterprising throughout without possessing the cutting edge and finishing touches which could have tipped the match in their favour.
An unconvincing scrum meant North Harbour were placed under a lot of pressure at the set piece, but Manawatu were left to rue errors committed at the breakdown, which ruined their momentum.
North Harbour and All Blacks lock Anthony Boric showed good strength to open the scoring when he carried the ball 20m to the line following good work from first five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth.
- NZPA
