Tasman continued their unbeaten start to the Mitre 10 Cup season and ended North Harbour's, with a 32-20 road win.
Bolstered by the return of All Blacks Shannon Frizell and Tim Perry, the Makos joined Auckland at the head of the Premiership table with three wins, with a chance to claim an outright lead next week.
Harbour scored first through a penalty from Bryn Gatland, but Mitch Hunt responded moments later.
Tasman winger Tima Faingaanuku crossed for a try in the right corner, converted by Hunt, but lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti drove over next to the posts to bring the hosts back on even standing.
When fullback Will Jordan and Frizell ran in consecutive tries before half-time, the South Islanders seemed to have game by the scruff of the neck.
Gatland kicked a penalty after the hooter to give his side a sniff and when winger Matt Duffie rose high to score in the right corner, converted by Gatland, Harbour were only two points adrift and back in the hunt.
The game turned in the 54th minute, when Harbour prop Chris Eves was penalised and yellow-carded at a midfield breakdown. Hunt kicked the goal, Harbour survived 10 minutes with only 14 players, but perhaps the effort took its toll.
Soon after they were restored to full complement, Tasman halfback Finlay Christie scored a long-range try, converted by Hunt, to put the game beyond reach for the home side.
"I thought the boys controlled the ball really well and we spoke about going wide," said captain David Havili. "I thought we did that in the first half, we were a bit scrappy in the second, but there's plenty to build on for next week.
"Harbour are a quality team and they did break us a bit in the second half. We've got a tough Auckland side next."
Tasman are back in the big smoke on Friday for their encounter with Auckland. Harbour visit Wellington next Sunday, hoping to take advantage of their rivals' short four-day turnaround from a midweek clash with Waikato.
Newshub.
