Eyewitness Match Reports  

 

 

North Harbour vs Hawkes Bay
North Shore RFC
3pm, Saturday 05 July 2008

10
28

Tries: C Evans
Cons: J Gopperth
Pens: J Gopperth

Tries: G Naoupu, J Kupa, A Bradley, J Allen
Cons: M Berquist (4)

Halftime: 03 - 14

A Magpie supporter sums the match up ...

"It was a pretty wet, cold and dark afternoon (they needed to turn the lights on the ground at 4pm), not condusive to free flowing rugby.
The Magpies won the scrums - the lineouts were pretty even, and both sides were willing at the breakdowns. For me the standouts were Bryn Evans who really looks to have stepped up his game following his time with the Blues. He played like you expect a senior player too - was good in the lineouts, excellent at kickoffs, and was another loose forward at the breakdown. I think that the ELV's will definately suit a player of his size and skill.
The South African lock (sorry can't remember his name) looked good when he came on too - a very high work rate and a very very big boy not afraid to use his size.
it was a steady game without being too spectacular for the backline - it was not conditions for back play but the boys still threw it around a lot and mostly it came off, following a few handling errors at the start of the game.
Jimmeh did not really stand out in his first game for Harbour - one good break in the second half, but a few wrong choices to kick when there were overlaps outside.
Harbour tried hard in the second half and deserved their try at the start of the second half (during one of the several hail storms during the game)."