Shield safe in Canty’s hands
Six Ranfurly Shield defences down, one to go.
Canterbury dispatched Waikato 37-17 at AMI Stadium in Christchurch last night, moving them a step closer to locking up the Log o’ Wood for the summer.
Premiership contenders Taranaki will get a crack at wrestling it from them on Friday night, in a match carrying playoff implications.
The red and blacks’ sixth defence this year – and seventh since taking the Shield from Waikato last year – was practically in the bag at halftime.
Waikato will lament the final 10 minutes of the first half, when Canterbury turned a 13-0 lead into a 30-5 buffer at the split.
Highlighted by Richie Mo’unga’s spot-on crossfield kick to rookie wing Josh McKay, the passage of play doomed the visitors, whose fifth consecutive loss buried their already anemic playoff hopes.
To make matters worse for the Mooloo men, a Counties Manukau win over Northland today will ensure they slip into the premiership’s relegation zone.
Last night’s Shield defence far from a classic.
Any fear Canterbury coach Glenn Delaney’s departure to the Highlanders after one season would hinder the players certainly was wasn’t evident judging by the home team’s performance.
While they were uncharacteristically sloppy in the second half, their physicality on defence was a step up from recent weeks.
The bonus-point win propelled them four points clear of Taranaki at the top of the Premiership, setting up what should be a belter at AMI Stadium next week.
They will almost certainly have to line up without flanker Jed Brown, who picked up what appeared to be a serious leg injury and had to be helped from the field in the first half.
It’s the latest in a string of serious injuries to Brown, who will join captain Luke Whitelock (knee) on the sidelines.
Other than Canterbury’s lineout, which wasn’t functioning at the usually high standard fans have come accustomed to, there was enough to like about the home side’s performance in the first half half.
Rookie wing Braydon Ennor moved to the top of the try-scoring leaderboard in the 22nd minute, when he picked off a Sam Christie pass and raced 60m to score under the crossbar.
It was his eighth try of the season, although McKay pulled to within two of him when he ran on to Mo’unga’s kick and bolted 40m to the line a little later.
Midfielder Rob Thompson, who finished off an Ennor break down the left-hand flank, and standout flanker Tom Sanders also touched down for the home side.
As good as Mo’unga was – he was perfect from the tee (17 points) and his in-play kicking was top-notch – he won’t want to see a replay of his missed tackle just before halftime.
Waikato centre Pita Akhi brushed him off to score the visitors’ sole first-half try in the 39th minute, some deserved reward for the battling Hamilton-based side.
They enjoyed lengthy patches of possession in a low-scoring second half, and outscored Canterbury 12-7 courtesy of two tries to wing Sevu Reece.
Waikato had their own injury problems, with Christie (leg) and lock Jacob Skeen (head) both succumbed to injuries within the first 45 minutes. of the Ranfurly Shield.
Tasman and Hawke’s Bay, who are both still winless, are rooted to the bottom of the championship ladder without any points.
Auckland started the round on Friday by securing a comfortable 37-5 win over North Harbour in Albany.
It was Black Ferns hooker Fiao’o Fa’amausili’s 100th match for Auckland as they ran in seven tries to one against Harbour, who stay third in the championship.
Waikato fought back from losing positions twice to beat Bay of Plenty 19-17 at Beetham Park in Hamilton.
Waikato first five-eighth Calista Wihone put them two points ahead after an hour with a well taken try down the left.
Waikato had broken the deadlock after Natalie Delamere went over before Bay of Plenty prop Luka Connor scored the first of her two tries.
Crystal Mayes’ quick tap set up the Volcanix’s second try for Sapphire Tapsell for a 12-7 halftime lead, but Waikato went ahead after the break when Delamere crashed over again.
Connor touched down for her second but Wihone’s matchwinning try was the difference, as was her boot, with her kicking two conversions to Mayes’ one after the contest finished three tries apiece.
Bay of Plenty remain top of the championship after the other four provinces in their division also lost to premiership opposition.
Hawke’s Bay were smashed 86-8 by Manawatu in Napier and Otago, who stay second, lost 41-19 to Wellington in Dunedin on Saturday.
Tasman were crushed 67-12 by new premiership leaders Canterbury in week five’s final match with just two rounds to go before the finals.