It was a Game of Three Halves, where Counties-Manukau, South Korea, and the QBE North Harbour Wider Training group played against each other in a preseason fixture at Massey Park in Papakura over 3 x 40 minute periods.
Harbour Head Coach Tom Coventry said the overall experience was outstanding.
“Awesome for our younger players to get a hit out, especially for some of our Wider Training Squad and Academy players to have a crack against an international side for the first time, and it is great to see the smaller nations touring. Something we would love to reciprocate in the future.”
He was pleased with the Harbour performance and with one eye on the Mitre 10 Cup, said progress is being made, specifically in squad depth. The side was well led by Glenn Preston in the first half, Matt Vaega in the 2nd, and the first try to Harbour came off the back of 20+ phases, proving continuity and patience is being well drilled into the side.
Shae Tucker and Jake Antonio-Rooney scored for Harbour v Counties in a game that was very quick on a dry track. Plenty of running rugby from both sides and Harbour drew first blood, through a dominant forward effort, which saw Antonio-Rooney go over through a pick-n-go as our forwards peppered the Counties-Manukau defence down the left wing tramlines. Counties scored 20 minutes in through a well-executed line break and offload, and Tucker sealed the Harbour win with a line break to go 30m to score 15 in from the right hand touchline. Harbour win 12-7.
All-in-all it was a win / win / win for Harbour, Counties, and the South Korean tourists in a very positive Game of Three Halves.
Harbours next outing will be in an identical game of three halves v Auckland and Northland, on June 12th.
© 2022 North Harbour Rugby | Web Design by Benefitz.