Canterbury consolidate their NPC lead with big win over Tasman
There were no recriminations, no bleating.
Tasman knew the score. Sometimes you simply have to doff your cap to superior opposition and after Canterbury's comprehensive 41-25 bonus point national provincial championship win over the Tasman Makos in Nelson on Saturday, there was absolutely no doubt about the visitors' claim to dominance.
A clinical Canterbury team consolidated their premiership lead and secured themselves a home semifinal in the same breath as Trafalgar Park offered the home team no respite.
Tasman Makos second-five David Havili tries to make a break against Canterbury at Trafalgar Park in Nelson.
It was Tasman's third straight loss despite having already qualified for the semifinals. But it was sweet revenge for Canterbury after two losses to Tasman last year, including their premiership semifinal defeat in Nelson to end Canterbury's hopes of a seventh straight title.
Tasman head coach Kieran Keane paid due deference to Canterbury's impressive performance.
"I thought the best team did win because they took their chances," Keane said.
"They had two set phase tries and another bounce of the ball, which we should have been able to defend, but that's life."
Still, it was a marked improvement on the previous week's loss to Counties Manukau.
"It was a far better effort allround. The catch-cry all week was `no regrets' and I've got no regrets about what they did. I can't be disappointed in the effort and the way they came back from the death, but then again, another set-piece try nailed us.
"They're a very polisehd team Canterbury, a top team clearly and that's why they're at the top of the table. We can take heart from this but obviously we need to bring our own polish.
"There's plenty of fight in this [Tasman] team and I like the way they rolled their sleeves up and showed a fair bit of character. We're not distraught, we're not unhappy, but obviously we'll have to regroup, because a lot of energy and effort went into this one."
After the indignity of 47 missed tackles against Counties Manukau the previous week, Tasman proved much more accurate under early pressure from Canterbury. However, from a 3-3 scoreline, Tasman eventually opened the try-scoring after some clever opportuinism by second five-eighth David Havili led to an intercept near the line from an abortive Canterbury exit attempt.
But back came Canterbury, flanker Matt Todd helping to level at the scores at 10-10 following a Ryan Crotty break from an attacking scrum. Tasman were then made to pay after they let the ball bounce from a loose Canterbury kick, Crotty reacting quickest to secure possession and put midfielder Rob Thompson away for their second try and a 17-10 halftime lead.
Canterbury went further ahead just moments after the break, the ever-present Crotty spinning out of an attempted tackle to put Taylor away for their third try and a handy 24-10 lead.
While Havili and Taylor traded further penalties for a 27-13 scoreline, Canterbury's air-tight defence proved impenetrable as Tasman continued to throw everything into attack.
Canterbury sealed their hosts' fate when Thompson scored his second try, intercepting an attempted Tasman break-out from their own line.
Tasman still refused to lie down, as two tries to captain and flanker Shane Christie within three minutes of each other inspired some late belief in the home team at 34-27. Canterbury replacement back Cameron McIntyre restored the imbalance when he scored inside the final 10 minutes, leaving Tasman to unsuccessfully try to secure a try-scoring bonus in the dying minutes.
Tasman now head to New Plymouth on Thursday to take on defending champions Taranaki.
Canterbury 41 (Rob Thomspon 2, Matt Todd, Tom Taylor, Cameron McIntyre tries, Taylor 5 con, 2 pen) Tasman 25 (Shane Christie 2, David Havili tries, Marty Banks pen, con, Havili pen, Trent Renata con) HT:17-10.
- Stuff
