Mitre 10 Cup: North Harbour dent Manawatu's championship playoff hopes

North Harbour wing Matt Duffie in action.
North Harbour wing Matt Duffie in action. Photo credit: Getty

North Harbour have eased into a Mitre 10 Cup premiership playoff spot, with a 29-16 win at Manawatu.

Harbour's third win of the season has seen them leapfrog neighbours Auckland, who suffered a 40-0 loss to Tasman on Friday night. 

The loss ended a hot run of form for Manawatu, which has seen them beat Southland, Northland and Canterbury, and they now trail Taranaki by two-points in the championship playoff hunt.

Harbour responded well to an early Turbos score to lead 12-11 at the break, after Asaeli Tikoirotuma's try cancelled out Adam Boult's opener. 

Prop Sione Mafielo added a second minutes later, before Otere Black landed two penalties to pull the home side to within one point. 

Harbour stretched their lead early in the second half, forcing Manawatu to play catch-up and when Black failed to convert his own try with 14 minutes left, the lead was eight points.

Fine Inisi iced the game for the visitors, dotting down with four minutes to play. 

North Harbour 29 (Tikoirotuma, Mafileo, Duffie, Telea & Inisi tries; McGahan two conversions) Manawatu 16 (Boult & Black tries; Black two penalties)

Newshub.