MATCH REPORT - HARBOUR V MANAWATU

After 364 days and nine consecutive losses Harbour have finally broken the losing streak thanks to an impressive defensive effort that sa...w them overcome ITM Cup Championship table-toppers Manawatu 24-13 at QBE Stadium.

“It was a pretty gutsy effort to be honest. It’s been a tough start but I think how the boys played really reflects how hard they’ve been working during the week in trainings,” said captain Bryn Hall.

The opening forty was evenly poised with both sides testing each other in slippery conditions under foot. In his second start of the season experienced first five eighth Dan Halangahu was cool under pressure kicking two early penalties in the opening quarter.

With Harbour ahead 6-3 the hosts got their first real try-scoring opportunity of the match which they took by the scruff of the neck. Continued phases on the left side of the field drew the Turbos defence in which led to a Harbour overlap on the openside. The hosts’ backline strung together pinpoint passes before debutant Matt Vaega put Luke Devcich in space as the solid winger busted his way over for the first try of the game in the 24th minute.

Captain Bryn Hall was full of praise for Devcich who was playing his blazer game for the province.

“Luke played bloody well. He just didn’t stop working. With kicks, chases, tackling, he was everywhere and that’s all you can ask from a winger. He has that kind of personality where he’s just energetic and he wants to work and I thought a lot of guys followed off that. There were big moments in that game where he made massive tackles off kick chases, was just outstanding.”

Halangahu’s conversion from the sideline was astray but Harbour held a well-deserved 11-3 lead with 15 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Turbos began to show why they’ve won four of their first five games as they dominated territory and possession. Young playmaker Otere Black had the option to add a second penalty to the scoreboard but visiting captain Callum Gibbins opted to pile on the pressure with an attacking lineout. The decision paid dividends for Manawatu, with Gibbins scoring off a powerful lineout drive. A conversion by Black reduced the deficit to one point.

It was all Manawatu in the final ten minutes of the first half, with the likes of fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder showing his class with a couple of stunning runs off Harbour’s clearance kicks.

In a sign of things to come, Harbour’s defence resembled a brick wall as they managed to find a way to deny any more points coming from the visitors. Both sides headed for the dressing rooms for a well-earned breather, with Manawatu holding the momentum after their persistent attack at the line.

“The message in the sheds was just to play smart footy. We knew they had the wind at their backs but it kind of died down a bit so Dan [Halangahu] and I just spoke about playing in the right field possessions and staying quite direct, using our forwards and if nothing was on we just booted it away,” said Hall.

Harbour got off to the perfect start with debutant Gerard Tuioti-Mariner snatching the ball in mid-air from the opening kick-off to give the hosts early possession. The Turbos forced a turnover but a kick out on the full from Jason Emery gave Harbour a lineout 20 metres from the try line.

It proved a costly mistake from the visitors. A pinpoint lineout set the platform for the backs to attack and it was Pita Ahki who bumped off a would be defender to stroll in for a try five minutes into the second half. A comfortable Halangahu conversion extended Harbour’s lead to 18-10.

Following Ahki’s try Manawatu began to dominate both territory and possession. Manawatu were peppering the line before Harbour finally gave away a penalty which Black converted to make it an 18-13 ballgame. The vistiors major threat was Nehe Milder-Skudder who was lethal on the counter attack. The Turbos fullback looked like he was about to lock the scores up after he scampered past Robbie Robinson en route to the try line. But out of nowhere Tevita Li, who’d only be on the field a few minutes, sprinted his way across the field to hold up Milder-Skudder over the line.

The pressure wasn’t over from Manawatu as the visitors attacked the line from close range. Every time the Turbos threw something at Harbour, Steve Jackson’s men responded. Manawatu tried to barge over in close but Harbour wasn’t relenting. The Turbos tried to spin it wide but there were no holes in Harbour’s defence. After nearly ten minutes of Manawatu attack, ill-discipline cost the visitors.

The assistant referee picked up on a deliberate stomp which overturned an original decision penalty decision to the visitors, and allowed Harbour to get some much needed territory.

Captain Bryn Hall realised at the time it was a turning point.

“People have been questioning our effort but it’s always been there. It’s just being used in the wrong times. I guess it was just one of those moments, we talked about if we could just hold them out here it would shift the momentum and after all the hard work we fortunately got a penalty.”

Harbour’s defence took the wind out of the Turbos. Two late penalties from Halangahu sealed the result as the home side surged onto their first win of the season, and their first with Steve Jackson as head coach and Bryn Hall as captain.

The skipper made special mention of the efforts of prop Greg Pleasants-Tate who earned his blazer after playing his 15th game for the province, as well as tonight’s three debutants.

“The lads in the front row don’t get many nice words but I thought he was really dominant in the front row tonight, he really helped lay the platform. GPT’s work rate was phenomenal was really pleasing.

“Matty [Vaega] has only been here for four days! For him to put a performance together like that was bloody awesome. Josh [Blucher] came on and he really sparked us up with a couple of great breaks that got us on the front foot. And Epa [Gerard Tuioti-Mariner] was outstanding. We talk about work rate and doing the little things well and he did some things that changed the momentum for us.”

It doesn’t get any easier for Harbour, with big brothers Auckland waiting for them at Eden Park in the Battle of the Bridge next Saturday.

QBE Harbour 24 (Luke Devcich, Pita Ahki tries; Dan Halangahu 4 pen, con) Manawatu 13 (Callum Gibbins try; Otere Black 2 pen, con).