Rugby: Battle of bridge goes to the Auks

By WYNNE GRAY

AUCKLAND 28 NORTH HARBOUR 18

Just too good when it counted. NPC champions Auckland kept on track for a potential title defence when they hung tough to beat neighbours North Harbour at Eden Park last night.

It was a slog rather than a pretty journey for Auckland who needed their three tries in the third quarter to edge out a gallant Harbour side fuelled by big matches from their All Black forwards Ron Cribb and Troy Flavell.

But Auckland's pack worked strongly and with Carlos Spencer showing his continuing composure and flair, they counterpunched their way to victory.

In his 100th game for Auckland, seasoned lock Robin Brooke started strongly, grabbing the first lineout and Harbour just held out the thrust for the line from the home side.

After that shock they quickly found their attacking rhythm. Rua Tipoki worked enough room to set Cribb off on a 60m burst and the No 8 looked likely again several times in the first 10 minutes, but chose to kick the ball rather than run at the defence.

Auckland lost Adrian Cashmore to a hamstring strain and nearly coughed up a try as well before a strong Xavier Rush tackle stopped Harbour prop Tony Coughlan just shy of the line.

Rush himself was denied at the other end of the park by gutsy defence from Mark Robinson, with both players taking some time to reveover from the collision.

After a scoreless first quarter, replacement kicker Spencer converted a penalty for offside and just missed with an audacious long-range dropped goal.

Replacement fullback Orene Ai'i had an airshot trying to flykick a ball to safety and from the subsequent lineout, Harbour began the try scoring.

Captain Flavell delivered the ball to Robinson who jinked round the front of the lineout for the smart try.

The Silao Leaega conversion had Harbour in front and with Spencer and Leaega exchanging late penalties, Harbour led 10-6 at the break.

There had not been much special rugby in the first half, but three tries at the start of the third quarter brought a blaze to the evening.

Robinson saved Auckland's first foray when he cut down Doug Howlett, then Steve Devine was denied, but the third wave of the same movement had Auckland skipper Paul Thomson barging over for his first NPC try.

Harbour replied with a Cribb-Flavell special from 60m. Cribb looped outside his backs and pounded into the Auckland 22 and, as he was tackled, got the ball away to his captain.

The move appeared to have died as Flavell was hunted down, but he smuggled the ball back and Cribb somehow hauled himself off the ground, raced to the breakdown and smashed his way over.

Teamwork brought Auckland two smart replies. From a series of breakdowns, Mils Muliaina was able to ignore a huge overlap and pound his way through the broken defences before Charles Reichelmann was over from a planned scrum move.

No 8 Rush feinted to transfer to Devine outside him but successfully turned the ball back inside to his flanker for a neat result.

Auckland pushed hard for a bonus point fourth try but could not crack the defences again in the final 20 minutes.

Auckland 28 (P Thomson, M Muliaina, C Reichelmann, tries; C Spencer, 2 con, 3 pen) North Harbour 18 (M Robinson, R Cribb, tries; S Leaega, 2 pen, con). Ht: 6-10.

Auckland Samoa 19 (T. Ai'i 2 tries, S. Faifua 2 pen, T. Pau pen) Auckland Tonga 12 (S. Motuliki, A. Maka tries, F. Payne con). Ht: 11-7.

Auckland B 35 (T. Suemai 2, G. Williams, P. Trethewey tries, J.. Arlidge 3 con, 3 pen) North Harbour B 8 (J. Smith try, N. Ngapaku pen). Ht: 28-3.