Rugby: Coach blasts fickle Harbour

By Chris Rattue

North Harbour rugby coach Wayne Shelford blasted his side just minutes after they had taken a big step towards making the NPC semifinals.

North Harbour raced to a 45-15 lead after 60 minutes of their match against Counties Manukau at Pukekohe, then reverted to festival mode as the home side mounted an extraordinary comeback which nearly brought them victory.

It was almost the perfect Pukekohe exit for retiring Counties Manukau coach Mac McCallion and lock Jim Coe from the often madcap Steelers side.

In the end, Harbour held on for a 45-39 win, but the only difference was Frano Botica's goalkicking. For the second week in a row, Botica landed seven from seven, while Blair Feeney missed three conversions as each side scored six tries. The Steelers came incredibly close to winning with a late attack.

North Harbour are now third-equal with Canterbury, who they play on Friday night. A win would ensure them a place in the semifinals, maybe even at home.

It hardly bore thinking about how Shelford may have reacted had Harbour actually lost.

"I'm pleased to get the five points ... but [after gaining the big lead] the boys thought it was just going to happen," said Shelford.

"It doesn't just happen in sport. You've got to make it happen. For me that is the difference between amateurs and professionals.

"A lot of North Harbour players, for all their talent, can't produce all the time. That's why they will never make it to the top.

"Preparation is the key to it all ... each level higher you go there are more demands.

"North Harbour, I believe, have been their own worst enemies over the past five or six years. At certain times their attention tends to wander."

Shelford said some of his standout players, including captain Botica and No 8 Ron Cribb, had thrown 50/50 passes at a time when North Harbour needed to close the game down.

It was a remarkable afternoon. Harbour led 17-10 at halftime, Counties Manukau scored immediately after, then Harbour appeared to bury the home side with centre Rua Tipoki, Matua Parkinson and Cribb prominent as they rattled on four tries in the third quarter.

But there is nothing so dangerous in rugby as a Counties Manukau comeback at Pukekohe.

They started their move when referee Paul Macfie, on a touch judge's report, ruled a penalty try for Joeli Vidiri being held back.

Vidiri, who is on a special fitness programme after a poor season, was kept on the bench in the first half but replaced Salesi Moimoi for the second.

He struck magical form, inspiring three quick tries, leaving three minutes for the Steelers to complete the job. But the final attacks were thwarted by a dropped pass and tackle-ball penalty.

It was the final home match for McCallion and 179-game lock Coe, who captained the Steelers for one of the few times in his career.

The 35-year-old Coe said the bumps and bruises had persuaded him to call it quits, especially as he would need a further two seasons to overhaul the 201-game union record held by his old Waiuku clubmate and friend Allan Dawson.

But he may return to club football, as he is five games short of 200 for Waiuku.

"I first said I'd retire five years ago when the professional era started ... but this is definitely it," Coe said.

McCallion downplayed his own Pukekohe exit: "Just another day at the office."