Manawatu upset Canterbury at death
The Manawatu Turbos pulled off a major upset with a try three minutes from time to hand Canterbury their first loss of the season 19-13 in Palmerston North yesterday.
Turbos lock Jackson Hemopo was awarded the try after TMO Chris Jansen controversially ruled Johnny McNichol failed to ground a Jason Emery grubber kick in goal.
That try was Manawatu side and territory.
In persistent rain at CET Arena in Palmerston North, Canterbury’s swarming defence left Manawatu relying on the boot of Otere Black to get them on the board for much of the match.
But Canterbury’s constant infringing meant the Turbos had plenty of opportunities. They starved Canterbury of the ball denying them the opportunity to create anything on attack.
Ultimately those penalties cost the red and blacks with Manawatu having a 13-5 advantage in the penalty count.
Canterbury had the best of the early exchanges, but it was Manawatu who scored first through an Otere Black penalty in the ninth minute. Richie Mo’unga answered back with a penalty of his own to level the scores. the first of the night for a that dominated possession
Manawatu almost had the first try after Callum Gibbins intercepted a pass and set Curtis Reid into space. But Reid’s offload to lock Tom Parsons was dropped with the tryline begging.
Canterbury’s scrum was in dominant form, but Canterbury were starved of ball and territory. Manawatu rode a 9-3 penalty count to pile on the pressure.
But the red and black defensive wall held firm leaving the Turbos to settle for a 9-6 lead at the break.
The penalties kept flowing against Canterbury early in the second half and Luke Whitelock paid the price with a yellow card seven minutes into the half.
Parts of the second half descended into a match of forceback, which Canterbury often won. It helped them suck up time until Whitelock returned with no damage to the score.
With machine like precision, Canterbury struck when they were returned to 15 men.
Jordie Barrett made the break from a counter attack and a couple of phases later, George Bridge slid a across in the left corner for the opening try of the match.
Another Black penalty held Manawatu within one point.
That set up the frantic finish to the match with.
Manawatu were playing under penalty advantage when the try was awarded.
Meanwhile, Otago extended their unbeaten start to the national provincial championship to six games with a scrappy 24-13 win over North Harbour in Dunedin yesterday, writes Robert van Royen.
The blue and golds were far from perfect against an improving North Harbour outfit, and will need to lift their game if they are to have a chance against premiership frontrunners Canterbury next weekend.
But for now Cory Brown’s troops will enjoy what’s been an impressive streak to start the season, a stretch which includes five wins against championship teams and a win against premiership side Tasman.
Otago outscored North Harbour two tries to one, while No 10 Fletcher Smith continued his outstanding season by contributing four penalties, one conversion and a crucial try-saving tackle in the second half.
Only a point separated the teams after the first half, as Otago, which chose to start electric midfielder Matt Faddes on the bench, bolted out of the gates and led 14-3 early, only for Harbour to claw their way back into the match.
It’s been Otago’s backs racking up the tries so far this season, but their only two under the roof in their latest game went to front rowers Craig Millar and Sam Anderson-Heather.
The visitors might feel aggrieved with a couple of decisions which went against them, particularly Otago’s opening try.