Ioane excels, but Harbour hold out to upset Auckland
The Auckland No 8 set up one try, scored another but couldn’t stop his team losing a gripping Battle of the Bridge. David Long reports.
AKIRA Ioane gave the All Blacks selectors a timely reminder of his talents in last night’s Battle of the Bridge, but couldn’t stop North Harbour recording a memorable win over Auckland.
The No 8 may be in the All Blacks squad, but hasn’t yet played a test. He will go to Australia with the rest of Ian Foster’s squad today and was only expected to be a fringe player for the Tri-Nations.
However, the 25-year-old was at his brilliant best in Auckland’s 23-22 loss against North Harbour.
It was a tough Battle of the Bridge between these two provinces, with North Harbour dominating the second half and Bryn Gatland nailing all five of his shots at goal.
Plenty of Harbour players stood out, but so too did Ioane, who was given a release by Foster to increase his match fitness.
Ioane set up Auckland’s first try, scored their last, was a constant threat with ball in hand and impenetrable in defence. He’s sometimes criticised for disappearing in games, but he was everywhere at North Harbour Stadium.
How much this performance will improve Ioane’s chances of playing in the upcoming tests is something only the selectors will know, but there wasn’t anything more he could have done.
Harbour are a team that has improved as the season has gone on. After losing their first three games they defeated Tasman and Hawke’s Bay, before losing a close game against Wellington 25-20.
So they shouldn’t be treated lightly by anyone and, although they’re still bottom of the table, are showing they’re no certainties for relegation to the Championship.
The Battle of the Bridge rivalry isn’t the fierce contest it once was. Taking All Blacks out of provincial rugby will do that to a competition. But this was still a game played with plenty of intensity.
Gatland gave Harbour the early lead, with a penalty in the sixth minute, but sevenminutes later Ioane broke through a tackle, drew in another defender then passed the ball outwide to set AJ Lam up for a try. Three minutes later Auckland were in again, with TumuaManu finishing off, following prop
James Lay’s breaching of the Harbour defence.
In the 20th minute Auckland’s Zarn Sullivan was sent to the bin for a tip tackle on Shaun Stevenson.
But Harbour struggled to make the most of their man advantage. Gatland did goal another penalty, but thosewere the only points Harbour gathered while Auckland were down to 14 men.
Late in the first half there was more superb play from Ioane, who perfectly timed a hit on Bryn Hall, then stripped the ball in the same motion.
In the last minute of the opening half Harry Plummer and Gatland swapped penalties to make the score 15-9 at the break to Auckland.
Twominutes into the second half James Little took a ball from Hall at pace and burst through the Auckland line for Harbour’s first try, then Gatland put his team up 16-15 with the conversion.
Once Harbour got their noses in front, the whole team seemed to lift, while more mistakes crept into Auckland’s game.
Marcel Renata became the second Auckland player shown a yellow card, for being offside at a ruck in the 62nd minute.
Harbour chose to go for the lineout, rather than kick for three points and it paid off, with Luteru Tolai scoring from the driving maul. Gatland’s subsequent conversion gave Harbour an eight point lead that Auckland weren’t able to close, even though Ioane scored a try four minutes from time.