Rugby: No McAlister, but Harbour still flounder

David Raikuna attacks Counties Manukau's line with Sherwin Stowers in tow. Photo / Richard Robinson

Counties M. 40 North Harbour 32

Life without Luke McAlister is looking much like it did when he was around - pretty bleak.

Counties Manukau consigned North Harbour to their seventh loss in eight matches at Pukekohe last night. The home side move to third in the championship.

The McAlister boil was finally lanced this week, with Harbour announcing he had been released early, for a fee, to take up his contract with French club Toulouse.

Counties had barely time to scan the opposition for familiar faces before they found themselves 10-0 down.

Rudi Wulf scored a fortuitous try following some explosive work by David Raikuna, while Ben Botica landed an early penalty and a wide conversion. Counties looked a rabble, but slowly Harbour let them seep back into the game. Counties' captain Mark Price scored after some poor Harbour work at the back of the scrum.

It took until the stroke of halftime before the home side crossed again.

This time it was Tim Nanai-Williams doing all the damage, wriggling his way clear and having the presence of mind to continue when he was pulled down short but not held.

When flanker Mark Selwyn crossed just after the break after an ill-fated Harbour attempt to run the ball from under their own posts, it looked as if there was no way back for the Shore boys. However defence then became an optional extra. Mathew Luamanu scored for Harbour, followed by Sherwin Stowers for Counties, before gifting one straight back to Botica with a wretched attempt at tackle.

Stowers made amends when he laid on a perfect offload for replacement Bundee Aki to score.

Ten points up with 12 to go became seven with eight as Luamanu crashed through insipid defence. Replacement Baden Kerr finally made it safe with a penalty with less than five minutes to go.

Counties 40 (Mark Price, Tim Nanai-Williams, Mark Selwyn, Sherwin Stowers, Bundee Aki tries; James Semple 2 pen 3 con)

North Harbour 32 (Rudi Wulf, Mathew Luamanu 2, Ben Botica tries; Botica 2 pen 2 con). HT: 18-13.