Tries: A Taylor (2), R Foreman,
J Leota, T Cama
Cons: A Taylor (4)
Pens: A Taylor (2)
Drop Goal: A Taylor

And so another season has come to a disappointing end...this is starting to get a bit boring and more tragic - highly predictable.

Let's start with a positive, Auckland's season is over. I read this in the paper yesterday and due to Southland's and Hawkes Bay's tidy results over the week, the Scum have been left out of the final four. Excellent.

What was a little short of excellent was another woeful performance by our top side in the Union. I viewed this at a local hostelry and enthusiastically slapped my mate on the back at half-time and laughed "this one is in the bag". Unfortunately I thought we might score a point or two in the second half. Sadly this did not materialise, however, our condemned friends from Palmerston North put on 34.

The game pretty much went to script, Harbour started well, looked good with ball in hand, Harris played ok, forwards were solid and then we go in at the break, have a lobotomy and come out minus spine and brain. Pitiful, gay, gay crap.

Harbour had much of the first-half, controlling the ball well with the forwards dominant and our backs combining for some tasty runs. Harris had a great kicking game in this period and the highlight was a stunning try from Wulf who looked quicker than Jessie Owens on a crisp Berlin morning.

Enter the second forty and it was largely one-way traffic. Wing Aaron Taylor with his cute spiky, green haircut was pure magic. He scored a brace of tries, landed six successful kicks at goal as well as a booming 45m dropped goal in his 27-point demolition of a broken side. Aaron Cruden and captain Nick Crosswell also impressed showing that there will be some very good players in the Heartland competition next season.

Taylor showed more than once the fragile nature of some of our players, particularly Tuigamala when he outpaced him to claim the bonus. Our misery was made even worse when the traditional "emptying of the bench" brought us persons who offered even less than the original 15.

Not a lot more to say really except one team had unity and heart and the other was Harbour.

Manawatu handed Tew and Hobbs a petition to save the Turbo's prior to the game and I hope something is done to keep the four from disappearing. It will change NZ rugby forever and will move it further away from what NZ rugby is supposed to be about. Harbour have only defeated one of the "doomed four" and this is something that must weigh heavily at Albany.

We have promise but we must realise it before the Union disappears before our eyes, the clubs are showing signs of wear and tear with a few unable to field Premier, Senior First or junior sides. If we are not careful we will end up relegated and many around the country think it would be fair enough.

Hard to argue.