Harbour 14
Taieri 14
The two sides could not be separated at a windswept Watson Park.
Harbour was the more polished in the first half and led 11-0 at the break, but Taieri came back well and led for a good portion of the second half.
A Logan Allen penalty with just under 10 minutes left tied the game up and neither side could win the match.
Allan had a chance at the death but his penalty attempt from 42m out, and wide out, never looked likely.
The match was dominated by a howling wind sweeping over the ground. It had a big impact on passing and both teams, for reasons best known by them and very few others, persisted in throwing deep in lineouts for a significant period of the match.
Harbour was on top in the first half, big loose forward Sione Misiloi rumbling over midway through the half. Harbour’s forwards drove well and perhaps it should have been more ahead at halftime, as Taieri looked out of sorts.
But the men from the plains come back into the match after the break. Lock Josh Larson scored a try and then the visitors received a penalty try after a foot trip on Taieri winger Marc Rooney, through he was some distance from the tryline. Harbour centre Ewan Brunwell cooled his heels for a spell because of his indiscretion.
Harbour hooker Sekonaia Pole ran well, while Allen impressed at times. Taieri fullback Mitchell Scott looked lively and prop Guy Millar worked hard.
Read the full ODT write-up here.