Another Close Loss
QBE
Insurance
North
Harbour continued their pattern of losing games in the second half tonight, going down 13 – 17 to Taranaki at Yarrow Stadium.
The yellow and black team had the winning of the game in their utterly dominant number 7, Scott Waldrom. With the form he again showed tonight, an All Black recall must be on the selectors’ minds. His ruck and maul turnovers provided the advantage to the home team which they rode home with a strong following wind in the second half.
The half-time scoresheet read 10 – 5 to
North
Harbour. The story of the half boiled down to two Chris Smylie moments and kicking accuracy. Only five minutes from the start, Taranaki opted for a lineout from a kickable penalty position. The ensuing ruck saw Willie Ripia charge over an ineffectual tackle from Smylie to score. After 33 minutes Smylie had his revenge when he took a quick tap from a handy position and ran through three defenders to score at the end of a period of dominance by the visitors. In the first half, Ben Botica landed the conversion and one of his two penalty shots; Willie Ripia missed his conversion and penalty attempts.
Taranaki attempted to contain their opposition within the centre of the park for their forwards to grind it up.
QBE
Insurance
North
Harbour evidently had a more up tempo game plan and sought to attack down either flanks. Rudi Wulf stood out from fullback, attacking with an intensity which Taranaki struggled to contain.
The second half continued with the high paced style of game coming from both sides. Taranaki sought to use the wind better than
North
Harbour and used the long kick at every opportunity. This with the superb thieving of Waldrom made territory a more difficult proposition for
North
Harbour. Up front it was a very confrontational battle with neither side stepping back nor gaining real ascendancy.
North Harbour did not add to their second half score and succumbed 13 – 17 as the penalties were all kicked and the long kicks continued to drive them back deep into their own half. The final whistle came after
North
Harbour proved again their wide game plan was well conceived by breaking out from near their own goal line to near the Taranaki 22, before finally being forced across the sideline.
Best on Ground:
QBE Insurance North Harbour: Tony Woodcock; Tom Chamberlain; Vili Ma’afu; Ben Botica; Rudi Wulf
Taranaki: Laurence Corlett; Jason Eaton; Scott Waldrom; Willie Ripia; Jack Cameron
