Canterbury revert to old selves
All is well in Canterbury as the red and blacks reverted back to their usual selves and got their Mitre 10 Cup title defence back on track in the competition’s latest round.
The red hot favourites to win an eighth title in nine years handed championship leaders Otago their first loss of the season in Christchurch on Saturday, winning 45-34 and ensuring Otago still hasn’t tasted success against their neighbour since 2005.
After scoring just one try in a 19-13 loss to Manawatu in Palmerston North the previous week, Canterbury were back to their free-running best on home turf.
They chalked up seven tries, including one to Australian lock Dave Mcduling, and only an Otago try after the fulltime hooter saw the visitors pull to within 11 and snare a bonus-point try.
Only four points separate leaders Canterbury and fourth-placed Auckland in the premiership with three rounds to play, and thirdplaced Counties Manukau are looking threatening ahead of the semifinals.
Canterbury challenge Waikato for the Ranfurly Shield on Wednesday.
Powered by a quick-fire hat-trick by prop Kalolo Tuiloma, and a standout performance by halfback Augustine Pulu, Counties fired a warning shot when they outclassed Waikato 35-26 in Pukekohe.
Taranaki bounced back from the disappointment of narrowly missing out on winning the Shield against Waikato last week to beat Manawatu 30-19 in dreadful conditions in New Plymouth.
Tasman continued Hawke’s Bay’s miserable season, picking up a bonus point in their 36-29 win in Napier to keep their premiership playoff hopes alive.
Premiership team Auckland remained in touch with the rest of the top four after beating Bay of Plenty 44-38 in Rotorua in the final match of the round.
Despite their first loss of the season, Otago still leads the championship section of the NPC, although Wellington only trails by six points and has a game in hand.
Wellington edged Northland 29-21 in Whangarei to avoid being the first team to lose to the Taniwha in almost two years.
It was a mixed week for Southland, who finally won a game - 20-16 against Bay of Plenty in Invercargill - but then lost 35-14 against North Harbour in Albany.