North Harbour picked up their second win of the national provincial rugby championship with a 33-26 win over Northland in Albany tonight.
Harbour had recorded just one win in the championship, a 39-15 second-round victory over Tasman in mid-July.
But with vastly improved work at the breakdown, led by openside flanker Scott Uren and hard-working No 8 Mat Luamanu, North Harbour kept on the front foot and their backs relished the extra time and space.
After Lachie Munro and Ben Botica traded penalties in the open 20 minutes, Northland led 6-3 before Harbour's patience in building phases was rewarded with a well-taken try to fullback Willie Walker.
Botica added the extras, and Harbour hit the front 10-6.
Munro sunk two more penalties, and Botica one, leaving North Harbour with a narrow 13-12 lead at halftime.
That was extended just five minutes into the second stanza, New Zealand sevens star David Raikuna showing too much pace for the scrambling Northland defence to make it 20-12 after the conversion.
Botica knocked over another penalty for a 23-12 lead at 55 minutes, but replacement flanker Cameron Goodhue closed the gap with Northland's first try, a textbook move off the back of the scrum.
North Harbour's lead disappeared entirely five minutes later after Northland winger Bryce Heem sliced through and Munro converted give Northland a 24-23 lead with les than 15 minutes remaining.
However, North Harbour took barely a minute to respond, Luamanu underlining his position as the competition's leading try-scorer when he proved an unstoppable force from 25 metres out.
Botica maintained his 100 percent accuracy with the boot when he added the conversion, following that up with another penalty to see North Harbour home.
