University A had to work hard to gain a one-point win over a tenacious Harbour team at the University Oval.
The students scored two tries to one, and moved up a place to fifth on the table, but they were never able to gain any real ascendancy over bottom-placed Harbour.
When captain and No 8 Paul Grant crashed over for a try from an attacking scrum 13 minutes into the second spell to increase University's lead to 17-9, it seemed the students would cruise to a comfortable win.
That they did not was because of a combination of their own mistakes and a Harbour team which refused to back down.
In fact, there were periods when the students could have lost the game in the final quarter, after No 8 Peter Mirrielees scored under the posts to reduce the deficit midway through the second spell.
The closeness of the scores made for an interesting finale but there were too many errors from both sides for this to be a match of any quality.
Stephen Fenemor controlled play well for University A and got good service from halfback Nick Annear, while Harry Corkill and Fassiu Fuatai were strong further out.
Grant was a powerful figure at the back of the scrum and lock Sione Teu played well, as did front-rowers Sam Sturgess and Tama Tuirirangi.
Lex Kaleca and George Folau were threatening runners in the Harbour backs, Mirrielees was effective in his unaccustomed role at No 8, flanker Angus Duckett was a non-stop worker and Sam Ready gave his usual honest display in the second row.
University A 17 (Harry Corkill, Paul Grant tries; Stephen Fenemor 2 con, pen), Harbour 16 (Pete Mirrielees try; Ollie Cuthill con, 3 pen). Halftime: University A 10-6.
