NPC: Harbour beat Southland to go back-to-back

North Harbour players after defeating Southland. Photo / Getty

Newly promoted North Harbour have opened their premiership rugby campaign with back-to-back wins, downing Southland 45-20 in a national provincial championship cross-over match on Thursday.

After edging Otago 19-17 last week, Harbour overcame a sluggish start at Invercargill's Rugby Park to pile on six tries, four in the second half.

Southland had struck early, centre Matthew Johnson latching onto a spilled up and under after seven minutes to score and put the home team in front.

Harbour pivot Bryn Gatland and Southland's Ryan Tongia exchanged penalties before Matt Vaega crossed to level the scores after 20 minutes, set up by some fancy footwork from Tevita Li.

Harbour hit the front after 33 minutes when Li crossed out wide but Southland took a narrow 17-15 into the break when halfback Liam Howley sold an outrageous dummy on the line and dived over.

The second half was all North Harbour, prop Chris Eves crashing over after barely five minutes then fullback Shaun Stevenson converting turnover ball into points with a flying run down the right wing.

Vaega picked up his second shortly after the hour mark ticked over, Li also bagging a double with his 82nd minute effort to complete Harbour's dominant second half.