Rugby: Big fish versus minnow in North Harbour final

By J. A. GASPARICH

Takapuna and Glenfield will make strange rugby rivals when they front up for the final at Albany on Saturday.

Takapuna, who demolished Kumeu 59-0 in their semifinal are chasing a seventh consecutive Harbour championship.

Glenfield, a minnow in the Auckland union before the Harbour breakaway, beat Marist 34-24 to reach their highest peak.

Walter and Laurence Little in the five-eighths and Aisea Tuilevu at centre are the glamour men of the Glenfield team's great late-season charge.

Tuilevu scored a try and wing Metu Egalani was put in position for two more in their stunning win.

But credit should go to the Glenfield pack, who dominated the game.

Coach Hayden Ferris, who has returned to the playing arena in the last couple of weeks as hooker, scored a fine try. His brother, Miles, playing his 150th game, added another touch of experience.

Sadly for Marist, hard-won ball was all too often turned over at the breakdowns by a Glenfield pack scenting a finals berth.

Kumeu fell victim to a Takapuna side matching their own style - moving the ball around the field.

After an even first quarter, superior fitness took over, with Takapuna combining between forwards and backs.

Nine scintillating tries were the rewards.