Canterbury win Ranfurly Shield
Canterbury came and conquered Waikato in Hamilton to take the Ranfurly Shield south.
Jordie Barrett coolly slotted two penalties in the last 10 minutes to secure a 29-23 victory, after the fate of the shield was delicately poised in a gripping second half last night.
Not since 2010 have Canterbury won the Log o’ Wood, and they’ve not held it since 2011 after their last defence lasted just three matches.
The Mooloos have battled, fought and dug deep to retain the shield six times – three in this season’s Mitre 10 Cup and three in pre-season against Heartland Championship opposition.
But it wasn’t lucky number seven at FMG Stadium Waikato on Wednesday night, despite Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara’s 66th minute try levelling the scores in the final quarter, as a possible repeat of the
(Ben Funnell, Johnny McNicholl tries; Richie Mo’unga 2 con; Mo’unga 2 pen, Jordie Barrett 3 pen) (Jordan Manihera, Whetu Douglas, Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara tries; Jordan Trainor 2 pen, con). 20-12. draw they secured against Taranaki looked on the cards.
Canterbury just did enough to hold off another enthralling defence from the Mooloos, who must look to qualify for the semifinals after their third defeat of the season.
Waikato were boosted by the return of four regular starters – forwards Jordan Manihera, Brian Alainu’uese and Jacob Skeen and fullback Jordan Trainor, who all missed the 35-26 loss to CountiesManukau last Friday night.
Canterbury headed north on Tuesday after beating Otago 45-34 on Saturday. Their early jitters were eased when Richie Mo’unga slotted a penalty to give them a 3-0 lead.
But Waikato responded immediately with the game’s first try on 13 minutes, as they shifted the ball right to Tavuyara, who dummied and timed his offload to the gleeful Manihera to perfection, who then scored in the corner.
That jolt to Canterbury’s challenge raised the intensity, and Mo’unga restored their early lead with another three off the tee.
The test of Waikato’s seventh defence of the shield was then epitomised by the ease in which Canterbury crossed for their first try, with a Mo’unga free kick to the corner, then a clinical lineout and dominant rolling maul allowing Ben Funnell to touch down – and the challengers were 13-5 ahead.
But the Mooloos were prepared to play, and scored a sensational try when Sam Christie’s chip over the top found Jordan Trainor, who dashed clear before offloading for Whetu Douglas to score.
Canterbury then demonstrated their skill set with ball in hand, as Jack Goodhue broke down the right and drew defenders, before finding Johnny McNicholl, who dived over to restore their eightpoint advantage, which they held at half-time.
Trainor added three for Waikato as they burst out of the blocks in the second half, eager to hold on to the famous Log o’ Wood with Hawke’s Bay, who they beat last October to take the shield, visiting Hamilton a week on Saturday.
With 29 minutes left, Trainor cut Canterbury’s lead to two with his second penalty that left the fate of the shield delicately poised, with the score at 18-20.
Jordie Barrett stretched Canterbury’s lead with a penalty that was won from the next play, though, but then Tavuyara finished superbly in the right corner to level the scores at 23-23 in the 66th minute. But Barrett’s two late penalties did the job for Canterbury.