Northland 27 North Harbour 27
KEY POINTS:
There's been some heavy weather in Northland in recent times - and more on the way if the forecasters are right - but no more than the heavy weather North Harbour made of this game.
It's not unknown for Ranfurly Shield holders to have a dodgy game ahead of an upcoming challenge. But Taranaki will watch the video-tape of this game with some expectation ahead of their match this weekend.
Harbour were outdone up front, in the loose and in the rucks and mauls by an insistent Northland. With their well-publicised front-row problems made worse by the sudden withdrawal of young prop, Ben Afeaki, the Harbour scrum spent much of the first half in various degrees of reverse, collapse or re-set.
But they hit on the useful strategy of shifting the ball quickly and it paid off after 20m.
Winger Viliame Waqaseduadua lived up to his pre-game billing as the most dangerous attacker on view. He scored the first try after winger Jack McPhee danced around some lacklustre chasers, the ball was sent wide and Waqeseduadua trusted his pace and wriggle factor to break the line and scoot 30m for a try under the bar.
That was followed by a typical Nick Williams bullock for a try after good work by Anthony Tuitavake, Williams, halfback Junior Poleleuigaga and another elusive run by McPhee.
But then that heavy weather settled back over the Harbour effort again. Northland ran the ball fetchingly at the Harbourites, No 8 Jake Paringatai produced a lovely offload and winger Fetu'u Vainikolo - younger brother of Lesley -
