Three-try Williams leads Harbour romp over Northland

North Harbour's Anthony Tuitavake tramples over Northland's Daniel Bowden in their 1st Division NPC match at North Harbour Stadium today. Picture / Fotopress

Blockbusting No 8 Nick Williams scored three tries as North Harbour brushed Northland aside 56-17 to move into the top four of the NPC rugby first division in Albany today.

Harbour scored nine tries to two, and claimed their four-try bonus point before halftime when they led 29-17 at the break.

Williams was a colossus for Harbour and had his third try two minutes into the second half when he charged over from a 5m scrum.

With captain Rua Tipoki creating chances with neat offloads in the midfield, the Harbour backs carved up in the second 40 minutes as Northland were kept scoreless.

It saw Harbour slip past Otago to fourth on the points table.

Northland, still winless after four matches, looked to make a game of it when they opened the scoring in the fourth minute.

Flanker Allen Tubbs scored from a powerful lineout drive and David Holwell's conversion gave them a 7-0 lead.

But Williams scored Harbour's first two tries in the space of six minutes, centre Anthony Tuitavake scored from a short Tipoki pass and wing Zar Lawrence scored their fourth from another Tipoki offload on the stroke of halftime.

Northland centre Manu Burkhardt-McRae beat two tacklers to score two minutes before the break, but it was the last time the visitors troubled the scoreboard attendant.

Tries to Williams and prop Tony Coughlan gave Harbour a 39-17 lead five minutes into the second half, and it was all over with 15 minutes left when fullback George Pisi finished a length of the field effort.

- NZPA