Scoreless second half costs Harbour win
Another disjointed second half performance from Steve Jackson's men has seen his side blow a 14-10 halftime lead to lose 21-14 to the Bay of Plenty Steamers in Rotorua.
Harbour could've had a lead as large as eleven points at halftime had it been for some more accurate goal kicking. First five Matt McGahan had an uncharacteristic afternoon ...with the boot, missing three penalties in the opening twenty minutes.
It wasn't until Harbour spun the ball wide and realised the home side’s frailties on the flanks that the visitors had some points to show for their efforts.
A counter attack on the right edge started the Harbour attack, before the ball moved through numerous hands to the left side of the field where hooker James Parsons got his fingers on the pill and dived over the line for his second try of the season.
McGahan found his kicking radar and slotted the conversion from the side-line to put Harbour up 7-0.
When Harbour needed to cement their advantage, a mistake from the kick-off gave Bay of Plenty a great opportunity within striking distance of the try line.
Steamers skipper Carl Axtens turned down a penalty after missing one earlier, opting instead to go for a lineout. It proved to be the right call as prop Mike Kainga finished off a powerful forward drive from five metres out. A conversion by make-shift goal kicker Nic Evemy locked the score at 7-7.
Bay of Plenty took the lead not long after through a Nic Evemy penalty, and it appeared the home side would head to the sheds 10-7 up until Harbour got their hands on the ball.
After a couple of barging runs one off the ruck, the ball was sent out to winger Tevita Li. The teenager from Massey fended his way into a gap before offloading to prop Greg Pleasants-Tate who dived over to regain the lead for the visitors.
From a similar spot to his first conversion, McGahan knocked over his fifth attempt of the day to give Harbour a well-deserved 14-10 lead before oranges.
That’s where the scoreboard stopped for the visitors, as Bay of Plenty began to win the wrestle in the second spell. A not straight throw at the lineout from James Parsons gave the Steamers possession in prime real estate, and after some continued pressure fullback Leeroy van Dam scored out wide.
When Harbour had their chances they failed to execute. The patient build up from the first half was missing, and instead was replaced by erratic play. There were opportunities for Harbour to kick for goal, but captain Bryn Hall was after tries. A risky decision which didn’t pay dividends.
An offside penalty conceded in the 53rd minute allowed Evemy to extend the lead to 18-14. Coach Steve Jackson opted for some fresh legs soon after, and once again Daniel Halangahu replaced Matt McGahan at first five. The former NSW Waratahs player made some darting runs, but wasn’t able to fire the backline into life in the final twenty minutes.
Harbour’s best chance to score came in the 62nd minute through number 8 Leigh Thompson. The North Shore product broke to the left off the scrum and beat two defenders as he made his way into the Bay’s 22. Just as Harbour strung together a few phases, a shoddy pass led to a handling error and the opportunity was gone.
Bay of Plenty regrouped, spurred on by Blues lock Culum Retallick and soon to be All Black Nathan Harris in the forwards. Evemy missed a penalty shot in the 66th minute but made up for it eight minutes later pushing the lead out to 21-14 with six minutes remaining.
Harbour had one last chance to salvage a draw when Bay of Plenty were pinged for not releasing the ball at the ruck. James Parsons had to return to the field after Ray Niuia took a blow to the head. The try-scorer from the first half was called upon immediately as Harbour had a lineout inside the Steamers’ 22.
Just as Harbour built momentum, a flurry of Steamers pressure at ruck time secured the home side the ball which they booted out of trouble. Robbie Robinson tried to get things going with a quick lineout throw, but the fullback was judged to have passed the ball in incorrectly handing BOP possession.
The Bay managed to hold on for their first win in over a year, while Harbour were forced to settle for their eighth straight loss dating back to September 22 last year.
Harbour will regroup back home in Albany, with current ITM Cup championship leaders Manawatu the next task for Steve Jackson and his men to prepare for.
Bay of Plenty 21 (Mike Kainga. Leeroy van Dam tries; Nick Evemy 3 pens, con). QBE Harbour 14 (James Parsons, Greg Pleasants-Tate tries; Matt McGahan 2 con). HT: 14-10 Harbour.
Photo: from ITM Cup Official website
