An All Black of recent vintage and a former Crusader, Mose Tuiali'i, appeared in North Harbour club rugby yesterday, playing for Takapuna in the reserves curtain-raiser against North Shore and having a big hand in his side's win.
But any notions that the Harbour union has made a surprise majorsigning for this year's provincial championship were quickly dispelled. Tuiali'i said he was simply taking the chance to have a run while he was taking a spell from the recent disasters in Japan. He still had two years left to run on his contract and would be soon returning to fulfil it.
As expected, the premier clash between old rivals, Shore and Takapuna, became a contest between two of Harbour's champion goalkickers, Shore's Ben Botica and Takapuna's Jon Elrick. Both landed five penalty goals and a conversion as the sides fought out a 22-22 draw.
Shore led at half-time 16-9, thanks to an excellent team try by wing Jorden van der Made. But Takapuna had the better of the final quarter, landed a good try from their Canterbury fullback recruit Marty Banks and almost stole the game in the final minute when Elrick had a rare penalty miss.
Northcote, despite losing many of last year's squad, showed they will be again difficult to dislodge as champions, thumping Marist 54-0, with Jack and William Whetton, sons of former All Black captain Gary, among the try-scorers.
Western Pioneers, a combination of Helensville and Kumeu, started strongly with a 39-9 win over East Coast Bays; Silverdale looked solid in a 33-24 win over Massey and Glenfield edged out home side Mahurangi 30-27 in a thriller.
