Waikato power to win in Albany

Depth of resources and superior, and consistent, pace onto the ball allowed Waikato to overpower North Harbour 36–27 in a thrilling ITM Cup encounter at North Harbour Stadium in Albany on Saturday.

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Waikato was unable to shake a tenacious home team until the final quarter of the game, a stage at which it was able to get to its superior bench to maintain what had been a hectic pace throughout the game.

North Harbour was also guilty of too many soft turnovers resulting from handling lapses and an indifference to chasing downfield kicks.

Waikato, by comparison, charged into attack time after time and eventually battered its way to the win with some strong running through the midfield where second five-eighths Christian Lealiifano and centre Save Takulo were constant menaces which was extended when Richard Kahui marked his return from injury with some equally strong runs.

North Harbour first five-eighths Mike Harris, at his first opportunity, opened up a gap in the Waikato defences when beating halfback Brendon Leonard's tackle attempt. He had flanker Malakai Ravulo on his shoulder to continue the attack to link with centre Jack Tarrant.

At the breakdown Ravulo was right on hand to secure the ball and it was flicked to prop Ben Afeaki to plough over for his maiden NPC try. Harris added the conversion.

Waikato responded with a penalty goal to first five-eighths Trent Renata in the 12th minute and then three minutes later big Waikato centre Save Tokula punished North Harbour for not following a midfield high kick from Harris. Tokula used the wide open spaces to set up the chance for Leonard to run in his side's first try.

North Harbour then capitalised on a Tokula blemish as he dropped the ball in a likely looking breakout from Waikato's 22m. Wing Alipate Fatafehi picked up the ball and then beat the tackles of Waikato second five-eighths Christian Lealiifano and wing Dwayne Sweeney to run away to score. Harris again added the conversion but Waikato came back in the 23rd minute when Renata landed his second penalty goal.

Renata proved that anything Harris he could do when in the 29th minute he strode through a gap to link with second five-eighths Lealiifano. He took the ball to the line and when it was flung wide Sweeney was able to scramble over in the corner.

After Harris landed a penalty goal to get the home side back to 17-18 down, Tokula made a big midfield break through second five-eighths Luke McAlister's attempted tackle to race into open space before finding Lealiifano with the pass to score the try.

North Harbour stormed onto the attack after the first half break with Harris directing play cleverly as the ball appeared quickly and after he almost got across in the corner it was hooker James Parsons who plucked the ball from the ruck and sneaked around the unprotected blindside to score in the corner. Back within a point, North Harbour then conceded two penalties, one of which Renata converted to get the lead back out to four points.

But a decisive break finally came when Lealiifano made a superb take when chasing a midfield bomb. He fed the ball to replacement forward Matt Vant Leven who then linked with replacement back Richard Kahui and he sped toward the line only to be grounded short, but not before lobbing a pass to lock Dominiko Waqaniburotu who scored.

It was a deserved win by a Waikato side which never looked like losing control, although North Harbour stuck like a limpet to keep the pressure on, however, as a dress rehearsal for next week's Ranfurly Shield challenge it was left with plenty to tidy up.

Scorers:

North Harbour 27 (Ben Afeaki, Alipate Fatafehi, James Parsons tries; Mike Harris 3 con, 2 pen) Waikato 36 (Brendon Leonard, Dwayne Sweeney, Christian Lealiifano, Dominiko Waqaniburotu tries; Trent Renata 2 con, 4 pen). HT: 20-28