Taylor inspires Canterbury win

Editor

All Blacks fly-half Tom Taylor scored 17 points as Canterbury saw off Otago in Christchurch on Saturday in the ITM Cup.

All Blacks fly-half Tom Taylor scored 17 points as Canterbury saw off Otago in Christchurch on Saturday in the ITM Cup.

Taylor was one of three try scorers for the host, crossing the whitewash along with Adam Whitelock and tighthead prop Nepo Laulala.

Hayden Parker was on-song with the boot for Auckland as he racked up 17 points, including five penalties, with winger Fa'asiu Fuatai grabbing the visitors' only try.

Whitelock opened the scoring after only five minutes but it spurred Otago into life, scoring 13 points as Hayden Parker landed two penalties and converted Fuatai's try.

The visitors therefore lead 13-7 heading to the interval but blew their lead before the whistle sounded, Taylor crossing first in the corner for Canterbury to lead 15-13 at the break.

Lualala then crashed over for the hosts' third try and then replacement front-rower Paea Fa'anunu sealed the try bonus-point with eight minutes left.

Otago had a late chance to clinch a losing bonus-point as Parker landed yet another penalty, but Taylor's final kick took it away from the visitor as Canterbury took the victory.

The scorers:

For Canterbury:
Tries: Whitelock, Taylor, Laulala, Fa'anunu
Cons: Taylor 3
Pens: Taylor 2

For Otago:
Try: Fuatai
Con: Parker
Pens: Parker 5

Canterbury: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Patrick Osborne, 13 Adam Whitelock, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Milford Keresoma, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Jed Brown, 6 George Whitelock (c), 5 Matt Symons, 4 Luke Katene, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Paea Fa'anunu, 18 Joel Everson, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Rob Thompson, 22 Johnny McNicholl.

Otago: 15 Peter Breen, 14 Matt Faddes, 13 Kieran Moffatt, 12 Jayden Spence, 11 Fa'asiu Fuatai, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Paul Grant (c), 7 Hugh Blake, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Tom Donnelly, 3 Scott Manson, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Craig Millar.
Replacements: 16 Sam Anderson-Heather, 17 Tama Tuirirangi, 18 Charlie O'Connell, 19 TJ Ioane, 20 Willis Scott, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Michael Collins.