Tasman well beaten by Canterbury 45 - 14
Canterbury midfielder Rob Thompson offloads in the tackle of Tasman halfback Finlay Christie in the build-up to Jordie Barrett's opening try for the home side.
Jordie Barrett contributed 25 points, but it was Canterbury's menacing scrum that gave Tasman a prescription of the nasty stuff during this 45-14 victory over Tasman in Christchurch on Sunday afternoon.
Fullback Barrett scored a try, kicked four penalties and three conversions as a late finish, thanks to tries by Dominic Bird, Nathan Vella, Jack Goodhue and Inga Finau, ensured Canterbury collected this bonus-point win at AMI Stadium.
It wasn't a polished performance by Canterbury - at times it seemed miles away from that convincing 43-3 win over Auckland in the opening round the weekend prior - but it was good enough.
So back to that mighty Canterbury scrum.
Put it this way, Tasman must have been dreading it when they had to pack down for some of the set pieces because they are a proud bunch; yet on a number of occasions they just had no answer to Canterbury's power.
They conceded a handful of tightheads, were penalised and generally couldn't control the power of the red and black monster.
Canterbury scrum coach Jason Ryan, at this rate, will be a shoo-in for the vacant assistant forward's coaching job at the Crusaders. He must have been immensely satisfied with the forwards' ability to drill Tasman and take away their attacking options and, so too, his boss Scott Robertson.
With five tries to their credit you would think Canterbury did this easily. Not so. Until lock Bird scored in the 61st minute they were only ahead 19-14, a result of their fumbles.
Look at the statistics at halftime, for example. Canterbury made 10 turnovers in that first spell, and in the next quarter they continued to be hampered by their handling jitters.
Tasman's defence was a problem for the visitors when Canterbury got momentum.
The last try to replacement back Inga Finau - he almost toyed with them as he hopped about like a jack rabbit - was cruel for the Tasman players but the game was well over by then. They just couldn't counter Canterbury's offloading game and, in return, were unable to find much daylight in their opponents' defensive wall.
Injuries didn't assist Tasman's cause and the loss of midfielder David Havili with concussion - he was knocked out under his posts early in the game - removed a potent attacker.
Still, Tasman provided one genuine highlight.
It doesn't what matter what grade you watch, a well executed set-piece triy always gives some rugby romantics a healthy dose of the warm fuzzies.
So good for Tasman, because they supplied a cracker early in the second half; quick lineout ball was shipped wide near halfway, fullback Mitchell Hunt gassed into a gap and right wing Tima Faingaanuku powered over through a couple of defenders to score in the corner.
Yes, maybe there was a suggestion of a knock-on by Faingaanuku but let's be charitable and overlook that.
Canterbury, though, were just too clinical. It was fitting that their first try to Barrett was one of their best. His pace down the right-hand flank ensured he eased over in the corner. Almost 70 minutes later he was anointed man of the match. No-one could dispute it was a fair call.
Canterbury 45 (Jordie Barrett, Dominic Bird, Nathan Vella, Jack Goodhue, Inga Finau tries; 4 con, 4 pen) Tasman 14 (Tim Faingaanuku try; Marty Banks 3 pen) HT: 16-9.
