This won't go down as one of the ITM Cup classics but North Harbour will gladly bank the four Championship points and reclaim the Lion Breweries Cup.
The 28-20 victory was their first since 2009 over Counties Manukau and consigned the Steelers to their third defeat by Championship sides in 2015.
Second-half tries to hooker James Parsons and second-five Michael Little, and some accurate goalkicking by Daniel Halangahu, gave North Harbour hope for the rest of their season. It would be a stretch, though, to say it has reignited their campaign.
Some of their work was too sloppy, but they came up with the plays that mattered in the second half along with some gritty defence, while the Steelers made too many mistakes. Little dived over after a lineout drive to seal it with five minutes to play.
"We've taken some steps but, if we want to compete, we have to play for at least 60 minutes, and not just in patches," said North Harbour coach Steve Jackson, who got one over his old Steelers mate Tana Umaga. "I thought at 13-7 with the breeze behind us, we just had to keep attacking and not kick as much ball to them."
The less said about the first spell, the better. There was a lot of dross, unforced errors, dropped passes and turnovers, despite the sunny conditions and a stiff wind. Kicks went too far and North Harbour's execution was lamentable from the boot of Matt McGahan.
But the fullback did make up for it, in his blazer game, with a try after Tevita Li had broken down the left flank off a turnover and then set up Parsons for his score.
That there was only a try apiece at the break would have been entirely appropriate were it not for an unfathomable decision by TMO Glenn Newman when Steelers No 8 Jordan Taufua appeared to clearly ground the ball at the siren. He was ruled to have been held up by the tackler when it looked like he grounded the ball on the first hit. Earlier, Sam Henwood, the industrious opensider, ploughed over for the Steelers' first try.
For the visitors, prop Pauliasi Manu galloped around, perhaps trying to prove he is the next best loosehead prop in the land, and Cardiff Vaega threatened at centre and occasionally faced down his little brother, Matt, who wore the North Harbour No 13 jersey, one
of 23 multi-coloured 'club day' guernseys.
North Harbour's best were young No 8 Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a, whose carries did not always attract timely support, Little and wing Li.
North Harbour travel to Nelson to play the Tasman Makos on Wednesday night, and Counties Manukau are at Northland next Saturday night.
- By Campbell Burnes of the New Zealand Herald
North Harbour 28 (M. McGahan, J. Parsons, M. Little tries; D. Halangahu 2 cons, 3 pens) Counties Manukau 20 (S. Henwood try, penalty try; P. Francis 2 cons, 2 pens). Halftime: 7-13.
