Tries: G Jackson, A Tahana
Cons: G Jackson (2)

And there went our season!

For once our fate lay in our own hands and that was the beginning of the end as far as our semi-final hopes were concerned.

Rather than finding ourselves at the mercy of the results from games involving other teams, the interference of the NZRFU or the deceitful behaviour of the Blues franchise, we knew exactly what was required from Sunday's game and yet we again failed to deliver.

I am trying to remain calm as I write this match report but in this instance time is not the great healer (or whatever that saying may well be). More than 24 hours have past since we produced a performance that could only be matched in the world of sport by the likes of Tim Henman or Greg Norman and even now I feel the fury building.

While the task at hand was by no means easy, there were no great shocks or surprises in the way BOP approached the game. Last season we ambled into Bay Park expecting to start our 2003 NPC campaign with an easy win and the maximum five points on offer. Instead we left with our tails between our legs after being well beaten by a more committed and enthusiastic BOP team. It is now apparent that neither the fans nor the players have managed to learn anything from this harsh lesson.

Given the loss to BOP last season, the fact that in 2004 BOP has defeated four of the five Super 12 power bases, and that the season was over for the loser of yesterdays game, was there the slightest glimmer of recognition amongst the players, coaches or union management that this game was going to require some determination and mental strength to win. It didn't look like it from where I sat and watched the death throes of another fruitless NPC season for Harbour.

For once a good crowd turned up in fairly average conditions to watch the game but all our boys could do was choke on their own press and excessive domestic travel arrangements. I can only imagine that the majority of the fans supporting Harbour yesterday were attending their first game of the season as I am far more used to being surrounded by plenty of empty seats and the shame of it all is that the way the team performed will not see any of these "fair-weather" fans returning in a hurry.

The game itself was pretty forgetful as far as I am concerned although the result will always burn in my memory. Playing into the wind in the first half we held the ball for long periods of play in the forwards but each time we let it reach the backs either McAlister or Meyer would provide Cashmore with some catching practice by lobbing a nice gentle punt down his throat. This is not a great tactic on the best of days but given we were playing into a strong breeze and persistent rain it was down right stupid.

We managed to secure enough territory for Luke to kick a couple of penalty goals but then with seven minutes to play in the half we let in a soft try as BOP opted for a lineout over a simply shot at goal and from the resulting ruck Jackson ran through Rudy Wulf to score behind the posts. Why is it that there are no NPC teams banging on the door to snare Rudy Wulf? Is it because especially in the last two games (the ones that really counted) his defence has been as effective as a scented paper tissue?

Returning from the break behind by a solitary point and with the wind and rain now at our backs it was no surprise to see Luke kick us into a 9-7 lead early in the second half. What was surprising was that with a huge advantage in both territory and possession North Harbour failed to score another point in the match. Instead the BOP determination and aggression at ruck and maul time produced a glut of turnovers and the all important "battle at the breakdown" failed to materialise as we continuously surrendered the ball meekly in the tackle. Needless to say BOP turned down another couple of kicks at goal and were rewarded with a try in the left corner after a series of rucks following another lineout.

BOP showed more passion and commitment in the second half. They were prepared to gamble by turning their backs on numerous shots at goal and backing themselves to score tries, which they did. The tries came on the back of some great committed driving team play and not flashy dummies and solo runs for the line which was a common site from the Harbour backs.

No doubt we missed Rawlinson badly and although Steve Jackson toiled mightily he could not match the efforts of the big yarpie. We could have done with missing Wulf and having Mailei in the starting XV but then again we have wanted that all season and seldom had it.

In our last two games it was great to see that Nick Evans has already brought his level of play down to the standards of Otago rugby and he dropped so much ball against BOP that for a while I thought it was actually Tusi Pisi playing in a Nick Evans mask. Farewell Nick, you will be missed and while we do understand that our loathing should be directed at the Blues and the NZRFU it would be easier to do if you had held that pass against Waikato and scored under the posts to win us the game. That hypothetical win and the bonus point from Sunday would have put us on 31 points and … sob … sob … enough of the would of, could of, should ofs.

Farewell also to Hosea and thanks for the sparkling form you produced when Pollock actually let you take the field ahead of Mr Wulf. Again our loathing should be targeted elsewhere as we can't really expect a bloke to turn down the $100k that the capital powder puffs are offering.

I better stop the farewells now before I start to dwell on the fact that we may face 5 or 6 of this seasons starting XV in rival NPC teams next season.

As I look back at the match report from the game against Wellington in Round 3 of the NPC we raised three key points that unfortunately are as valid today as they were in late August: - Tactics (We still don't seem to know how to play both with and against the wind)
- Forwards (A 35m rolling maul is of little value if it then collapses and turns the ball over)
- Subs (Who is our captain and who is our halfback? It seems we will never know)

Another season of outstanding promise and sparkling potential ends with a mid table finish and us few loyal fans seeking answers in the bottom of a pint glass or three.