Harbour almost stole the game in the last minute when it was beaten 25-19 by Taieri at Watson Park today.
Taieri led 15-7 at the break and extended the margin to 20-7 early in the second spell.
But Harbour displayed tenacity and did not lie down and had the better of the game in the final 20 minutes.
Elsewhere, No 8 Andrew Stead was in top form and scored two of Southern's six tries when Dunedin was beaten 36-17.
Southern lead the competition with 50 points and is followed by Taieri 37, Pirates 36, Alhambra-Union 31, Dunedin 29, Green Island 28, University A 23, Harbour 16, Kaikorai 15, Zingari-Richmond 0.
The upset of the day came when Kaikorai beat Green Island 37-19. First five-eighth Cam Rutherford kicked eight goals and 22 points.
PIRATES.....................................23
UNIOVERSITY A.........................15
Pirates 23 (Daniel Crichton, Halani Aulika tries; Glenn Dickson 2 con, 3 pen), University A 15 (Guy Schwikkard, Matt Faddes tries; Tom Halse con, pen). Halftime: University A 5-3.
Referee: Ben O'Keefe.
SOUTHERN...........................36
DUNEDIN.............................17
Southern 36 (Nick Jones 2, Andrew Stead 2, Sam Gavigan 2 tries; Hamish Buick 3 con), Dunedin 17 (Ashton Tuck, Fraser Lau tries; Louis Tili con, pen, Liam Edwards con). Halftime: Southern 12-7.
Referee: Todd Pullar.
ALHAMBRA-UNION .......................43
ZINGARI-RICHOND...........................3
Alhambra-Union 43 (Matt Dalley, Andrew Stephens, Tili Puloka, Peter Breen, Mike Moeahu, Adam Anker, Regan Tamihere tries; Breen 4 con), Zingari-Richmond 3 (Ben Bradley pen). Halftime: Alhambra-Union 29-3.
Referee: Hamish Davies.
TAIERI.......................25
HARBOUR....................19
Taieri 25 (Mike Kerr, Kurt Schrader, Charlie O'Connell, Dean Collins tries; Shannon Young con, pen), Harbour 19 (Brad Griffiths, George Folau, Craig Sneddon tries; Olly Cuthill, Sneddon cons). Halftime: Taieri 15-7.
Referee: Liam Scanlon
KAIKORAI...................................37
GREEN ISLAND............................19
Kaikorai 37 (Jayden Spence (2), Jye Cormack tries; Cam Rutherford 2 con, 6 pen), Green Island 19 (Jesse Toto, Telusa Veainu, Roma Sauileoge tries; Jesse Veainu 2 con). Halftime: 26-14 Kaikorai. Referee: Dave Kennedy.