There must be something about going into a game as underdogs that brings out the best in these boys, but regardless of how we rank, we play like champions and have had the belief belying our underdog status all year.
An absolutely HUGE effort in Wellington has upset the boys from the capital 40-37 and put us on a collision course with Otago in next weeks Mitre 10 Cup Championship final.
On a beautiful day in Wellington, we took to the field with a hiss and a roar, and through a Gatland penalty drew first blood after 4 minutes.
from the ensuing kickoff, Wellington dropped the ball in the midfield, and Matt Vaega scooped it up, broke the line, offloaded to Tevita Li, and he went in under the posts, setting up another easy conversion for Gatland. 10-0 after 6 minutes!
After one of the longest sequences of play we're ever likely to see (well over 30+ phases) where possession changed hands several times, it was an evil bounce that undid Matt McGahan, and Apisai went in for the hosts. Garden-Bachop added the 2 and it was 10-7 Harbour's way after 13.
Gatland and Garden-Bachop added a few more penalties between them to make it 13-13 after 23, and it was then, that Wellington hit their straps. A huge 40m rumbling maul set them up for a silky smooth backline movement to their left, and Goosen went in in the corner to give the hosts the lead for the first time in the match.
Harbour were forced to defend for the next 10 minutes, and dug deep as at the 35 minute mark, Wellington had amassed 67% possession, and 8 minutes in our 22 compared to our 1.45 in theirs, so would have been justifiably frustrated at a halftime score of 18-13, but it was going to get worse for them before the halftime hooter.
Matt McGahan has had a sublime season in the 15 jersey and today was no different. His chase of a Bryn Hall box kick down the left wing put pressure on the Wellington defense and they were bundled into touch in goal. The following Harbour scrum and subsequent ruck, led Glenn Preston to barge through the solid Wellington fringe defense for 5, and with Gatland's white hot kicking boots making no mistake with the conversion, the hosts found themselves on the end of some superb Harbour momentum, and trailing 20-18 at oranges.
The second started where the first half finished - Harbour forwards scoring tries. McGahan again putting pressure on the kick bundled the Wellington defense into touch, and the lineout drive, and pick-n-go's allowed Nic Mayhew to pick up his second try of the season. Gatlands extras put us up 27-18, and another 3 at the 51 minute mark gave us a bit of breathing space.
Joe Hill scored for Wellington on 60 minutes, and Aumua picked up another 5 pointer as the clock ticked over 68, and the it was all tied up 30-30 heading into the last 10 minutes.
Enter Daniel Hilton-Jones.
Harbour scrum 15 in on the Wellington 22, Li breaks the line, and offloads to Hilton Jones, who collects 5 with his first touch of the game, just to the right of the posts! Gatland's kicking was sublime and it was 37-30 with 7 to go. Discipline was the determining factor in the final 5 minutes with Wellington conceding 2 within kicking distance. The first was Gatland's only blemish on an otherwise flawless day with the boot, and the second sailed through the sticks, giving us a 40-30 lead with 4 to go. Wellington scored and converted on the hooter through Rangihuna, but it was too little too late and at full time it was 40-37, and we were Dunedin bound!
Its almost enough to make you feel sorry for the the person that put $94k on Wellington to win, 3 minutes before halftime.
Not really though...
North Harbour 40 (T. Li, G. Preston, N. Mayhew, D. Hilton-Jones tries; B. Gatland 4 cons, 4 pens)
Wellington 37 (L. Apisai, W. Goosen, A. Aumua, J. Hill, S. Rangihuna tries; J. Garden-Bachop 3 cons, 2 pens)
HT: 20-18
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