Turbos shock Cantabs
PHOTOSPORT THE Manawatu Turbos pulled off a major upset with a try three minutes from fulltime 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 McNicol failed to ground a Jason Emery grubber kick in goal.
That try was the first of the night for a Manawatu side that dominated possession 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 Black penalty in the ninth minute. Richie Mo’unga answered back with a penalty of his own to level the scores.
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.
Canterbury struck when they were returned to 15 men once Luke Whitelock returned from the sinbin.
Jordie Barrett made the break from a counter attack and a couple of phases later George Bridge slid 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.
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.