Canterbury in ominous form
Three-time defending Farah Palmer Cup champions Canterbury have sent out a powerful statement to their competition rivals.
If any other side has ambitions to end Canterbury’s title stranglehold, it is going to have to knock over the red-and-blacks, who look every bit Farah Palmer Cup favourites.
Canterbury improved to 3-0 on the season after thumping Hawke’s Bay 72-15 in Napier on Saturday.
They have scored 193 points in their first three games, while conceding just 35.
A week after routing Otago 85-10, Canterbury showed their attacking firepower again, piling on the tries at McLean Park.
Hawke’s Bay made a perfect start, scoring the opening try of the game through openside flanker Niamh Jefferson, but it was all Canterbury after that, outscoring the hosts 12 tries to three.
For a second week running, captain Alana Bremner and winger Martha Lolohea bagged two tries apiece, with centre Grace
Brooker also dotting down for a double.
Canterbury were in command at halftime, leading 37-10, which Hawke’s Bay were always going to find it tough to fight back from.
The win sees Canterbury hold a three-point lead in the South pool over Wellington, who they face in their next game in Christchurch on Saturday.
Winless Northland delivered the upset of the round, knocking over unbeaten Counties Manukau 32-20 in Pukekohe on Sunday. Counties Manukau took a 20-10 lead into halftime, but it was all Northland in the second half.
Auckland rebounded from their first loss of the season against
Counties Manukau last Sunday, thrashing North Harbour 72-0 in the Battle of the Bridge. Auckland sit top of the North pool from Counties Manukau, who have a game in hand, and unbeaten Waikato, who had a week four bye.
At Blake Park in Mt Maunganui, the Bay of Plenty Volcanix hammered the Taranaki Whio 73-17 on Saturday to make it two wins from three to open their season.
Otago were too strong for struggling Tasman, winning 67-24 in Nelson. It was an improved showing from Tasman, who scored their first points of the season after beginning with 62-0 and 88-0 losses to Wellington and Manawatu¯ respectively.
On Friday night, Manawatu¯ and Wellington played out a thriller in the capital with the Cyclones upsetting the Pride 31-28.
Manawatu¯ scored the decisive try to first five-eighth Carys Dallinger from a big overlap with eight minutes left, at a time when Wellington’s bruised defensive line was down to 13 due to injuries.