North Harbour prevails

Rugby: Premiership newcomer North Harbour battled to a tense 3330 win against championship outfit Hawke’s Bay in an NPC crossover match at North Shore’s QBE Stadium last night.

In a seesaw match where the lead changed hands 12 times, Harbour edged ahead with a lastminute Bryn Gatland penalty to steal the win.

Hawke’s Bay sits second from bottom in the secondtier championship, and was coming off a 4817 thumping from Taranaki last week.

North Harbour 33 (penalty try, Shaun Stevenson, Matt Duffie tries; Bryn Gatland 2 con, 4 pen), Hawke’s Bay 30 (Ash Dixon, Cardiff Vaega, Jason Long tries; Ihaia West 3 con, 2 pen). Halftime: 1317. — NZN