Wasted half no obstacle for Taranaki

TARANAKI 24 NORTH HARBOUR 19

Taranaki overcame a substandard first-half performance to beat North Harbour in New Plymouth.

A 22m penalty by North Harbour centre Luke McAlister four minutes into the game set the tone for the half.

North Harbour were content to feed off the turnovers caused by the poor handling of Taranaki's backs and forwards.

They extended their lead after nine minutes, when first five-eighth Tim Walsh dropped a goal.

Even a penalty from Taranaki fullback Daryl Lilley six minutes later failed to spark the home side and they fell further behind after winger Shayne Austin's knock-on near his 22.

Taranaki's drift defence was found wanting from the resulting scrum, Walsh ghosting through a gap before being pulled down in cover by No 8 Chris Masoe. The ball was spun wide, with North Harbour captain Troy Flavell offloading a pass to winger Anthony Tuitavake, who scored near the corner.

Another McAlister penalty made it 14-3 before the Taranaki backs showed their first piece of initiative, and winger John Stewart was pushed out five metres from the tryline.

A short halftime message from Taranaki coach Colin Cooper provided a much-needed boost.

Soon after the restart Masoe scored, and the conversion trimmed the deficit to 14-10.

Then Andrew Hore barged over from a five-metre lineout to give Taranaki a 17-14 lead.

With 13 minutes left, flanker Neil Crowley looked to have set up a winning lead after he burst clear from a ruck near the tryline to score.

The 10-point deficit stirred North Harbour and they closed the gap with seven minutes remaining when Walsh scored from broken play following a good run by winger Scott Adams.

Desperate Taranaki defence consumed the last five minutes as North Harbour sought the winning try. Taranaki held on, giving the departing Cooper a deserved final fling at home and earning a respectable sixth placing in the NPC.

- NZPA