It's interesting how this game is viewed by different people.

The Auckland Rugby Union website called the game a "convincing 17-6 victory", and that the team "defended with vigour to keep harbour scoreless." Even coach Anscombe saw the game differently to me as he was quoted as saying "I thought our defence was good and particularly strong on our goal line and we kept our discipline." Maybe form his view at the opposite end of the field he couldn't see all those penalties they gave away & the player sin-binned for killing the ball when we were hot on attack. Had this been an ANC game & not a preseason game the sin binning would have happened much earlier. Mind you this report from the ARU (with photos) is better than what the official Harbour website produced, where they give only the result & the scorers (although Ben Botica scored with 2 penalties, not 2 conversions). Flash new website, same poor reporting & still no online club shop for jersey's, t-shirts, etc. Poor.

It appears that no one else bothered to send a reporter to the ground as Stuff.co.nz was the only other report on the game & it copied almost word for word the ARU report. Amazing. Looking at the Herald you think the AB's game was on today.

I know I am biased. I love Harbour & want them to do well. But a fluky try, and a well taken Paul Williams try were really the difference. The Auckland team was pretty stacked with 6 - 8 of their 10 super 14 players & Harbour had all of the players from Takapuna & Northcote on the bench. In the second half, when they bought on these guys the game evened up. I think if Auckland score was 10 or 12 it would have been more of a fair reflection of the game.

Ben Botica was ok at first five. He didn't do too much wrong, but didn't set the world on fire. There was an instant change when Harris came on. Ken Pisi was weak at fullback. The centre/wing linking was disjointed in the first half, but looked to have more zip & purpose in the 2nd (the Botica effect?). James King & Filo Paulo played well with King doing well in the lineouts and around the field. James Afoa made a huge difference to the scrum when he came on. I think the hooker for the Canterbury game may well be decided in the club final tomorrow as both guys played well. Rest of the team did ok.

Alistair