North Harbour held their nerve to scrape home 25-24 over Northland in a ITM Cup match at Whangarei today.
Replacement first five-eighth Ben Botica sealed the win with a 24m dropped goal in the 83rd minute after North Harbour recycled the ball through 20 phases.
It capped a remarkable fightbackfrom North Harbour who trailed 6-21 in the 33rd minute after conceding three tries.
They emerged victorious despite scoring only one themselves and got home on the accuracy of their goalkickers, with Botica also landing two penalties and Mike Harris, the man he replaced, succeeding with three penalties and a conversion.
It was a cruel ending for Northland, who were the better side for long periods before North Harbour upped their intensity in the closing quarter.
Northland had much the better of the first half to lead 21-13 at the break following tries to young wing Bryce Heem, veteran first five-eighth David Holwell and blindside flanker Dean Budd.
North Harbour stayed in touch thanks to a try of their own seconds before the break when big flanker Matt Luamanu used his strength to power over after Mike Harris punched through the Northland defence.
Harris opened the second spell with a penalty to drag his side to within five points of Northland but the hosts continued to have the better of the battle for possession only to be frustrated when their hands let them down inside the North Harbour 22.
Northland landed a double blow in the 67th minute, with Lachie Munro landing a penalty when North Harbour lock Anthony Boric was sinbinned for a ruck offence on the North Harbour tryline.
But North Harbour replacement back Botica responded with two penalties of his own to trim the difference to just two points with 7min remaining, then added the icing with his 83rd minute winner.
North Harbour 25 (Matt Luamanu try; Ben Botica 2 pen, dropped goal, Mike Harris 3 pen, con) Northland 24 (Bryce Heem, David Holwell, Dean Budd tries; Lachie Munro pen, 3 con) Halftime: 13-21.
