Impressive start from Canterbury

Editor

Canterbury began their Mitre 10 Cup defence with an impressive 39-0 victory over last year's beaten finalists Tasman in Nelson on Friday.

Glenn Delaney's outfit were 20-0 up at half-time thanks to George Bridge and Dominic Bird's tries in the eighth and 36th minute respectively.

Richie Mo'unga chipped in with 10 points off the tee as the visitors looked a cut above the home team, who couldn't break down Canterbury.

It was more of the same after the break too as despite no further scores coming until the 68th minute, tries from Luke Whitelock, Rob Thompson and Mitchell Dunshea wrapped up a bonus-point victory that sent a message to their rivals that Canterbury are challengers once again.

The scorers:

For Canterbury:
Tries: Bridge, Bird, Whitelock, Thompson, Dunshea
Cons: Mo'unga 3, Cameron
Pens: Mo'unga 2

Tasman: 15 James Lowe, 14 Tima Faingaanuku, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Trael Joass, 11 Viliami Lolohea, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 9 Billy Guyton, 8 Shannon Frizell, 7 Pete Samu, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Alex Ainley (c), 3 Siua Halanukonuka, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Tim Perry
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Tom Hill, 18 Kane Hames, 19 Tone Ng Shiu, 20 Willis Scott, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Tim O'Malley, 23 Levi Aumua

Canterbury: 15 George Bridge, 14 Poasa Waqanibau, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Josh McKay, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Luke Whitelock (c), 7 Jed Brown, 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Mitchell Dunshea, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: 16 Nathan Vella, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Reed Prinsep, 20 Billy Harmon, 21 Jack Stratton, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Caleb Makene