Under 85kg

Squad list, fixtures & results for the 2007 North Harbour U85kg representative team.

NORTH HARBOUR V NEW SOUTH WALES 29.9.07

North Harbour 3 - New South Wales 20, HT score 0 - 3.

Point Scorers: J Clark Pen.

Game Highlights

On a fine but blustery afternoon at Marist RFC, the Harbour 85’s took on the more experienced New South Wales team. Harbour was feeling quietly confident as NSW’s 1st picks were unavailable due to selection for the NSW NPC team. Harbour playing into the breeze in the 1st half found a NSW team willing to run the ball from deep inside their own half. This game plan by NSW was defended well by the Harbour backs, which were then supported by the loose forwards who were able to turn over loose NSW ball. Harbour had a couple of chances to dot down but were confronted with strong NSW defense on their own line. With more players to the break down, turnovers in favour of NSW were then Harbour’s Achilles heel as NSW cleared the ball using the strong wind. One such clearance by NSW put Harbour on the back foot as the NSW pacey backs chased hard. The following Harbour indiscretion lead to the 1st points of the game. A penalty, 3 nil to NSW midway through the 1st half. Now NSW was on a roll and only stern defence by the Harbour team kept the score so and in fact stayed that way through to half time. With the wind behind them, the Harbour boys needed to control the ball, but were once again faced with an opposition willing to run the ball from anywhere on the field. This persistence paid off for NSW as missed tackles by Harbour lead to two long range tries from deep in their own half to bump the score out to 15 nil. Harbour replied shortly after with a penalty goal to Jeremy Clark. 15 – 3 and still over 20 minutes to play. With kicks not finding touch, the “non socked”, Chris Latham looking NSW fullback took full advantage of the extra space and tiring Harbour defence to break the line. He then feed his supporting players for another two tries and took the game away from Harbour with 10 minutes to play. With time disappearing a promising kick put Harbour deep into NSW territory, only for the ball to go out of play and the final whistle to be sounded, 20 – 3 full time score. The score, not a true reflection against a very experienced NSW team.   

Photographs courtesy of Dave Howell, Rodney Times

Dan Moke - U85kg v NSW 29.9.07	Julian Phillips - U85kg v NSW 29.9.07	Mitch Tangalea - U85kg v NSW 29.9.07	Ryan Schishka & Adam Williams - U85kg v NSW 29.9.07
Andrew Sorenson - U85kg v NSW 29.9.07	Jeremy Clark - U85kg v NSW 29.9.07	Kiel Burich - U85kg v NSW 29.9.07	Ryan Schishka - U85kg v NSW 29.9.07

 

NORTH HARBOUR v AUCKLAND 22.9.07

North Harbour 6 - Auckland 16, HT Score 0 - 3.

Point Scorers: C Smith 2 Pen.

Game Highlights

After beating Auckland two weeks ago, the Harbour boys were expecting the Blue and Whites to come out firing and that’s exactly what happened. Starting the game with a slight breeze behind them, the Auckland forwards dominated in the 1st ten minutes until the Harbour forwards found their rhythm and started to even things out. It was a 1st half of missed opportunities for the Harbour boys, with line breaks and dropped balls all coming to no-avail. Auckland slotted a penalty mid way through the half and that is where the score remained till the break.

The Harbour team was positive at the break and started the 2nd half looking to dominate in the ruck area and provide the backline with more front foot ball. With limited chances, Auckland landed another penalty to go ahead 6 nil. Ten minutes into the 2nd half, a change at halfback and 1st five brought fruition. The backline was finding more space and it looked as though Harbour were becoming the more dominate team. This led to 2 penalty goals by Carl Smith and Harbour were back on level terms with 25 minutes to play. The score stayed 6 all as the game flowed from one end of the field to the other. With strong defence by the Harbour mid-field stopping any Auckland attack, it was a ruck infringement by Harbour that led to another Auckland penalty. 9 – 6 down, Harbour was still confident and after the restart was back on attack. The dreaded 1st half came back to haunt the Harbour team as missed opportunities and decisions cost them dearly. With the game all but a knock on away from the final whistle Auckland broke away and with Harbour’s defence stretched scored a try, with the final act of the game being the conversion from Auckland. The Harbour boys were left feeling like it was the one that got away.

NORTH HARBOUR v HAMILTON CITY 15.9.07

North Harbour 36 - Hamilton City 24, HT Score 11 - 12.

Point Scorers: G Abbott, G Taylor, S O'Toole, R Manson Tries, G Taylor 3 Pen, C Smith 2 Con, 1 Pen.

Game Highlights

Harbour 85's retained the Predator Cup when they came from behind to beat Hamilton City 36 - 24 in very warm conditions in Hamilton on Saturday.

Hamilton City lead 12 - 11 at half time with Harbour still in contact through Geoff Taylor scoring the first try after 5 mins and then adding two penalty goals to keep us in the hunt. Harbour had 70% of the ball in the first 40 minutes with a tail wind but decided to run the ball from their own half which is where Hamilton took the advantage and put the Harbour boys under pressure scoring two tries and a conversion to lead at the break. Some very stern words by the Coaches sent the Harbour boys packing to follow the game plan or look out on Monday night's training.

The final 40 minutes were very crucial and a penalty to Geoff Taylor put Harbour in front. Then the gates opened Sean O'Toole's brilliant try down the side line and Robert Manson gathering some loose ball also dotted down, replacement half back Carl Smith converted both tries from the side line. Hooker Garth Abott aslo dotted down with one of his charging bull runs.

The final 8 minutes Hamilton came back and scored two very good tries and the conversion to take their tally to 24 points. Time up on the clock and some very relieved supporters Harbour were awarded a penalty Carl Smith added the extras.

NORTH HARBOUR V AUCKLAND U85kgs - 8.9.07

Harbour 20 - Auckland 10, HT Score 5-0.

Point Scorers: O Ikitule, K Burich, J Phillips Tries, G Taylor 1 Pen, 1 Con.

Game Highlights

Playing into the breeze the North Harbour forward pack gradually asserted dominance over their Auckland counterparts yet Auckland's backs were still a threat throughout the first half. Through some staunch and at times scrambling defence, North Harbour managed to slow Auckland's momentum and then went on to score a well constructed try to number 8, Oblix Ikittle, a lead which Harbour defended through to the end of the first half. Auckland came back strongly scoring a quick try and conversion early into the second half. The game was evenly contested until Geoff Taylor's penalty kick from just inside half way put Harbour back into the lead, and from there Harbour lifted their intensity. Harbour forwards provided crucial turnovers and good front foot ball, the backs opened up creating two wonderful tries of their own, one to Kiel Burich who finished strongly in the corner for a classic wingers try and the other to Julian Phillips timing nicely into space for this try.

NORTH HARBOUR V THAMES VALLEY DEVELOPMENT - 1.9.07

Harbour 16 - Thames Valley 13, HT Score 3-6.

Points Scorers: K. Burich try; G. Taylor Pen, J Clark 2 Pen, Con.

 

Congratulations to the following players who have been selected for the 2007 North Harbour U85kg team. The team will be coached by Paul Hill & Glen Savage with Dean Allnutt the team manager.

Name	Club
Dan Moke	ECB
Will Mahuru	Glenfield
Scott Lacey	Marist
Rob  Stevenson	Marist
Oblix Ikittle	Marist
Jeremy Clark	Marist
Lincoln Fereti	Marist
Kiel Burich	Marist
Mitch Tongalea	Marist
Warren August	Marist	**
Adam Mudgeway	Massey
Garth Abbott	Massey
Robert Manson	Massey
Andy Mai	Massey
Ross Craig	North Shore
Travis Keane	North Shore
Sean O’Toole	North Shore	**
Andrew Sorenson	Northcote
Willis Joyce	Northcote
Geoff Taylor	Northcote
Mike Coles	Silverdale
Adam Williams	Silverdale
Wikus Erasmus	Silverdale
Geoff Nottage	Takapuna
Ryan Schishka	Takapuna
Josh van Veen	Takapuna
Julian Phillips	Takapuna
** Subject to fitness test