The North Harbour provincial rugby team has beaten the Asian Five Nations champions Japan by 23-19 in Auckland.
It was a good start to Harbour's 25th jubilee year and also a personal victory with three former All Black team-mates on the sidelines, Japan coach John Kirwan's men losing their Pacific Nations Cup warmup game to Harbour's Craig Dowd and assistant Jeff Wilson.
Poor defence cost the Japanese, who trailed 16-nil at half-time and 23-nil shortly afterwards at Albany when Harbour's New Zealand Maori halfback Chris Smylie darted through several tackles to score his side's second try in the 46th minute.
The Cherry Blossoms stormed back to within four points with three second half tries, but the hosts Harbour held on.
The Japanese, more recently known as the Brave Blossoms, finally crossed for their first try on the 52nd minute through a maul off the back of a lineout to make it 23-7.
A yellow card for not rolling away slowed Japan's momentum but in the 68th minute their centre Alisi Tupuailei scored their second try, which went unconverted, while a very late try to the Japanese substitute and debutant Wada was just too late as Harbour wound the clock down.
Three Mayhew brothers were on the field for the home side late in the game, believed to be a club record.
