15 v 12 
Manawatu registered their first win of the 2013 ITM Cup Championship when they defeated North Harbour 15-12 at FMG Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing 5-7 at half-time the hosts used a significant wind advantage in the second half to good use with two unconverted tries to see off the stoic North Harbour challenge.
The match never reached any great heights but illustrated the importance of patience in possession with some particularly brutal gusts of wind in Palmerston North.
North Harbour captain James Parsons turned down a relatively kickable penalty that would have secured a 15-15 draw, instead electing to tap the ball and play on.
The decision didn’t pay off, however, and they were left to rue their second bonus point defeat of the season. They drop to last equal on the ITM Cup Championship table with Manawatu.
What will boost both teams is they are both one win away from third spot on the ladder, currently held by Otago on nine points.
Manawatu opened the scoring with a try to hard working No.8 James Oliver that went unconverted by Jade Te Rure. North Harbour responded 20 minutes later through to Nafi Tuitavake, who capped a superb attacking first half with a deserved try.
It allowed North Harbour to take a precious 7-5 lead into half-time, but they relinquished it almost immediately after the break.
Jason Emery used the wind to his advantage with a deft kick that found Nehe Milner-Skudder, his third try in ITM Cup rugby.
Manawatu’s confidence was noticable and symbolised by the hosts’ third try through Rob Foreman. Foreman’s throw into a disappointing lineout was secured by a North Harbour player only for the hooker to snatch it and dive over the line to extend their lead to 15-7.
Tuitavake and centre partner Peter Ahki had been menacing all day and Tuitavake was the instigator for the visitors’ second try. A superb break with seven minutes remaining saw the second five-eighths dart down the sideline before being brought down metres from the line.
Some quick thinking from Michael Little saw him pick up the ball straight from the breakdown and place it over the line some five metres away.
Manawatu 15 (Nehe Milner-Skudder, James Oliver, Rob Foreman tries)
North Harbour 12 (Nafi Tuitavake, Michael Little tries; Jon Elrick con)
HT: 5-7
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