Northland 26
North Harbour 23
Southland 18
Hawkes Bay 9
Brook Gilmore was the mystery man among the four wing starters at North Harbour Stadium last night.
But it was Northlander Gilmore who provided the moment of magic, an 80 metre solo try, which turned the game his side's way in a victory that has sent North Harbour's NPC season crashing.
Harbour had All Blacks Anthony Tuitavake and Rudi Wulf on the flanks. Northland had the rising Blues sensation Rene Ranger and Gilmore.
With the scores locked at 16-all late in the third quarter, Harbour were on attack but flung the ball straight to right wing Gilmore. He stumbled a bit, regained his balanced, weaved away from Tuitavake, and raced away for what turned out to be the match clincher.
It was the highlight of an erratic match, dominated by 100 per cent goalkicking from Northland's Lachie Munro and Harbour's Michael Harris. Northland had the touches of class though the work of Ranger and fullback Jared Payne, who stepped up to help Munro as first receiver at times.
Northland started the match promisingly with a Munro try, after the first five-eighths worked a wrap around move with his captain Payne which exposed a Harbour defence that had been working well via its spot tackling.
North Harbour were a mixture of good and bad but despite a lack of cohesion they began to make serious inroads into the visitors defence with strong individual charges during the first spell.
Midfield back Andrew Mailei produced one which set up a 22nd minute try to All Black wing Wulf who finished the move by darting sharply into the left hand corner, the first try for the side in three games.
Northland 26 (Lachie Munro, Brook Gilmore tries; Munro 4 pen, 2 con)
North Harbour 23 (Rudi Wulf, Filo Paulo tries; Michael Harris 3 pen, 2 con). HT: 10-16.
* * *
The bubble seems to have burst for Hawkes Bay who promised so much this season. Last night they followed last week's draw to unfancied Taranaki with a loss to a bullish Southland.
Try as they might, Hawkes Bay could not outmuscle Southland up front. Southland's win was built on a never-say-die defence which repelled numerous Bay forays.
Southland 18 (Josh Bekhuis, David Hall tries; Robbie Robinson 2 pen, James Wilson con)
Hawke's Bay 9 (Mathew Berquist 2 pen, dropped goal). HT: 5-9.
