News

North Harbour edge Manawatu

Saturday 30th August 2008

North Harbour managed to cling on for an entertaining 20-17 ANZ Cup victory over Manawatu at FMG Stadium on Saturday.

However, the hosts had more than one opportunity to salvage a draw, if not claim the four points in the contest, as handling errors cost them on several occasions.

Close to the hooter, a penalty chance to level was turned down in favour of glory before a knock-on from replacement scrum-half Joggie Viljoen denied Manawatu a last-gasp victory.

There should be no individual blame attached though, with mistakes costing them throughout in what was an end-to-end spectacle in Palmerston North.

North Harbour opened the game's account when All Black lock Anthony Boric powered over with determination just moments after wing Andre Taylor almost gathered an intercept pass.

But an unbowed Manawatu responded with just a quarter of the game gone when fly-half Matty James matched opposing number Jimmy Gopperth's work by taking a short ball to cross and convert.

Gopperth then posted three points of his own to push the visitors into an 8-7 lead going into the break.

And that gap was stretched just four minutes into the second period as impressive line-breaker Viliame Ma'afu raced through the attempted tacklers to score.

James did send over another three points shortly after to reduce the arrears to just five but the errors earlier highlighted dogged their game as chances were blown.

However, their endeavour was rewarded on 65 minutes as Johnny Leota ran through Gopperth as Manawatu got on the front foot. His pass to centre Frank Bryant then found scoring wing Lote Raikabula with the hosts now ahead 17-15 thanks to James' extras.

But their advantage was only temporary as the tide changed once again with Ma'afu crossing wide out for the match-winning effort before those missed Manawatu chances.

The scorers:

For Manawatu:
Tries: James, Raikabula
Cons: James 2
Pen: James

For North Harbour:
Tries: Boric, Ma'afu 2
Cons: Gopperth
Pen: Gopperth

Referee: Josh Noonan
Television match official: Mike Fraser