Canterbury dominate Harbour
Canterbury got their ‘storm week’ off to the perfect start with a 31-21 win over North Harbour last night in Albany.
It’s the round where the Mitre 10 Cup champions have to play two games and their first outing was a successful trip to the North Island.
Since the first up loss to Tasman, Canterbury have been at their ruthless best and this win further indicates that they could be in a three-horse race for the title this year, along with Tasman and Auckland.
But trouble is looming for Harbour. After winning their first two games, on each occasion by a solitary point, they’ve now lost three in a row and remain rooted to the bottom of the Premiership.
In just the second minute Canterbury were on the board as hooker Nathan Vella took the ball from a ruck close to the line and dived over. Fullback George Bridge twisted and swerved his way in for Canterbury’s second try six minutes later.
But in the 20th minute Harbour bounced back with a great team try, where James Parsons made a big run up the middle of the field and Matt Duffie finished it off, beating off three defenders
Thirteen minutes later Canterbury wing Caleb Makene had a try ruled out for a knock on and soon after Harbour’s fullback Shaun Stevenson took a great pass from Bryn Gatland and ran straight and hard for Harbour’s second try.
Gatland then nailed the conversion to square the game up at 14-14, but before the players went into the sheds Brett Cameron kicked a penalty for Canterbury.
There were farcical scenes for Canterbury’s next try eight minutes into the second half.
Mitch Drummond intercepted a Gatland pass and ran 70m before being chased down by Tevita Li.
The ball was then lost and Li found himself with it centimetres from his line, but it was turned over and quickly moved to Reed Prinsep to score.
When Canterbury lock Mitchell Dunshea scored three minutes later and Cameron landed another successful kick, they were up 31-14, with enough breathing space to cruise through the last quarter of the game.
With halfback Connor Collins in the bin for taking out a Harbour player, Canterbury did concede a try to Sione Teu, but there wasn’t enough time left for Harbour to mount a serious comeback. Next up for Canterbury is Auckland in Christchurch on Sunday.