Rugby: North Harbour beat Otago in season opener

Shaun Stevenson of North Harbour scores a try. Photosport

North Harbour 19 Otago 17
Bryn Gatland has returned to torment Otago in the opening game of the national provincial rugby championship, guiding North Harbour to a 19-17 win at QBE Stadium in Auckland.

The match was a near-repeat of last season's championship final, when a long- range Gatland drop kick earned Harbour a 17-14 win and promotion into the premiership.

Gatland's ever-accurate boot and ability to set up his outside players meant Harbour controlled the first half comfortably in Thursday's cross-over match.

Three penalties in the opening 25 minutes were topped with an assist for fullback Shaun Stevenson's 30th minute try as Harbour opened out to a comfortable 16-0 lead at the break.

Gatland added a fourth penalty soon after the restart before Josh Ioane finally put Otago on the scoreboard with a 54th minute penalty.

Poor work at the defensive lineout cost Harbour in the 61st minute, Otago's pacy All Blacks Sevens star Jonathon Ruru pouncing on a loose ball and scorching through to dot down.

Wing Mitchell Scott dived over for Otago's second six minutes later, a cut-out ball from Ioane leaving him plenty of room out wide.

Ioane's conversion closed the gap to just two, but while both teams had their chances in the closing minutes, Harbour's control saw them home.