Taranaki hold on to keep Shield

Editor

Taranaki survived a tough Ranfurly Shield challenge from Canterbury to claim a 18-9 victory at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth.

Taranaki survived a tough Ranfurly Shield challenge from Canterbury to claim a 18-9 win at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth.

James Marshall and Scott Waldrom scored a try in each half for the Amber and Blacks, with Waldrom's five-pointer coming in the 76th minute before the Shield was safe.

In difficult conditions, all of Canterbury's points came from the boot of Tyler Bleyendaal.

The result has now moves the Shield holders top of the ITM Cup standings – though they could slip to second if Wellington see off Waikato with a bonus point.

The scorers:

For Taranaki:
Try: Marshall, Waldrom
Con: Climo
Pens: Climo, Cameron

For Canterbury:
Pens: Bleyendaal 3

Taranaki: 15 Kurt Baker, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Willie Rickards, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 Frazier Climo, 10 James Marshall, 9 Chris Smylie, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Craig Clarke (capt), 3 Michael Bent, 2 Timo Tutavaha, 1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Sione Lea, 17 Carl Carmichael, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Chris Walker, 20 Brett Goodin, 21 Jack Cameron, 22 Jackson Ormond.

Canterbury: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock (c), 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Luke Katene, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Paea Fa'anunu, 18 Joel Everson, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Telusa Veainu, 22 Sam Monaghan.