Canterbury stave off sickness, Otago to keep Shield

Canterbury won’t produce much braver Ranfurly Shield defences than that.

Despite a stomach bug ravaging the team, the holders produced a memorable come-from-behind performance to beat Otago 30-24 at AMI Stadium yesterday and cap an entertaining round of provincial rugby action.

Four Canterbury players were late withdrawals and others had to play while still unwell, and yet they led 20-5 at one stage in the second half. But tries to wings Mitchell Scott and Jona Nareki suddenly saw Otago take a 24-20 lead with less than 10 minutes left.

Champion teams find a way to rally, though, and Canterbury did just that. Flanker Jed Brown – who was only drafted into the 23 after his team-mates fell ill – scored a late try, with two Mo’unga kicks applying the finishing touches.

Earlier in the round, two tryscoring forwards served notice they might be destined for bigger stages.

Backrower Jordan Manihera nabbed two tries in Waikato’s 33-21 win over Counties Manukau to take his tally to five in the first two matches.

Not to be outdone, Wellington’s barnstorming hooker Asafo Aumua grabbed an impressive brace as the Lions comprehensively beat a strong Taranaki team 42-26.

Manihera and Aumua are both former New Zealand under-20 internationals with the latter famous for scoring three tries in June’s World Cup final victory over England.

Wellington swatted aside a starstudded Taranaki backline, racing out to a 24-0 lead.

Taranaki trailed 27-14 at halftime but raised the tempo at times in the second spell to keep the visitors at arm’s length.

Waikato appeared to have their game in the bag with a 26-0 lead early in the second half. But that seemed to stir the Steelers with tries to Donald, Augustine Pulu and Jonathan Taumateine before a try to replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho sealed Waikato’s win.

The Mooloos’ mettle will be tested with two big games in the next week – against Auckland on Wednesday and Tasman on Sunday. The Makos are 0-2 after losing 35-20 to Manawatu.

Auckland, upset by Counties in week one, got on the board with a grinding 10-8 win over Northland at Eden Park.

Bay of Plenty also got their campaign underway with a convincing 46-17 win over Hawke’s Bay at Rotorua on Friday with try doubles to Joe Webber and Jesse Parete.

It looks like being a long season for the Southland Stags after their 45-20 loss to unbeaten North Harbour at Invercargill last Thursday.