Cocksedge the star act for Canterbury

A 27-point haul from Black Fern Kendra Cocksedge has helped Canterbury to back-to-back Farah Palmer Cup victories.

The defending champions were too classy for Counties Manukau with a 52-29 victory at Rugby Park in Christchurch yesterday. Cocksedge scored two tries, kicked a perfect eight from eight off the kicking tee and controlled the game to perfection.

The clever halfback’s kicking game kept the visitors pinned in their own half for much of the second spell after the red and blacks carried a healthy 35-10 lead into the break.

Cocksedge, playing her 75th match for Canterbury, scored her team’s first two tries, with the second a stunning individual effort from halfway off a quick tap penalty.

Judging solely on Canterbury’s convincing final win it seems hard to believe only Cocksedge and prop Pip Love are current members of the Black Ferns squad.

Canterbury prop and captain Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox – who won’t feature much in the highlight videos but got through a mountain of work in the tough stuff, praised the influence of Cocksedge.

‘‘Her knowledge of the game, kicking to right space, she was on-point. ‘‘Great player to have in the team, always doing the right thing at the right time. She’s definitely valued in the team,’’ Te Ohaere-Fox said. A former Black Fern, Te Ohaere-Fox praised the effort of the home crowd who were vocal in support of their team.