Taranaki hoist Ranfurly Shield
Christchurch: Home to the Barrett brothers, Peter Snell and now the Ranfurly Shield. Taranaki stunned Canterbury 55-43 in a thrilling contest in Christchurch last night night, denying the reigning champions from stashing the treasured Log o’ Wood at Rugby Park for the summer.
Three of Taranaki’s seven tries were scored by Seta Tamanivalu, Manasa Mataele and Pita Sowakula.
Having trailed 31-7 inside the first half hour, Taranaki stunned the home team with a breathtaking display of rugby in the second half. Their seven tries to six win at AMI Stadium started Taranaki’s sixth Shield tenure, and first since Waikato nabbed it from them in 2012. Taranaki flanker Lachlan Boshier scored the go-ahead points when he completed his brace with 10 minutes to play.
Wing Mataele sent the Taranaki contingent of the crowd into raptures a few minutes later, when he sealed the triumph after returning a charged down kick.
Both sides are on 36 points, but Taranaki has a game in hand over Canterbury, who will finish their regular season with an away game in Auckland next week.
At 31-7 after 27 minutes, Canterbury fullback George Bridge ran in a scorching 40m try, Taranaki appeared to be dead and buried.
However, two tries, including a peach to first-five eighth Stephen Perofeta, who used his silky step to elude wing Braydon Ennor, ensured the visitors pulled to within 31-21 at the split.
Perofeta’s sparking effort made up for the try he gifted to the hosts in the 20th minute, when his telegraphed pass was picked off by Canterbury skipper Tim Bateman to run in from 60m out.
It followed the double-blow Canterbury rocked Taranaki with inside the first quarter of an hour, with Rob Thompson and bulldozing flanker Tom Sanders crossing. Fullback Marty McKenzie, who had a perfect night off the tee, and centre Tamanivalu deserve plenty of credit for their input.
It was Tamanivalu who flicked Boshier a marvellous offload as he was falling into touch in the 53rd minute, as the flanker’s first try pulled the visitors to within three, and with a mountain of momentum behind them.