Taranaki: Repel Canterbury challenge
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.
Comments
Ferdie says...
and Scott Waldrom can't get a Super contract for 2013.
wonder if he'd be prepared to cross the Tasman for a season
Posted 13:20 16th September 2012
Ferdie says...
ramage, bk47 - the taranaki fan club. three is a start!
what do you think - if it was to be either the Ranfurly Shield or the ITM Cup - being a traditionalist I'd go for RS as the focus, Manawatu should not (though always room for upset) be a big threat but those cow-bell folk from Waikato are the big danger.
Posted 10:31 16th September 2012
Ferdie says...
one game that has gone unreported, Friday night's Counties Manakau v Otago. C-M won, but one feature of the match was the guest referee from Japan, Akihisa Aso.
He was refereeing his third provincial match in NZ this month (after reffing 2mths of club rugby), the previous two were in the Heartland Division, this CM v Otago in the Premier ITM Division.
He is here for about 4 months as part of the international referee development program, and being hosted in family homes for the duration of his stay. Good scheme!
Posted 07:58 16th September 2012
bk47 says...
Gutted i missed this as I was shifting house but still wore the naki jersey while doing so. Gota love the naki!!!!!
Posted 02:13 16th September 2012
Ramage says...
Well done to the Naki especially as they were without their inspirational player Barrett who was on All Black duty lets hope that Dan Carter is fit to go away on tour which will allow Barrett to return to Provincial and shield duty, Although to be fair Marshall played extremely well. Now on to Auckland but it is the game against Wellington, although not a Ranfurley Shield match, that looms large in the Premiership and overall ratings. Go the Naki.
Posted 01:49 16th September 2012
Ferdie says...
100% wrong in my fatalistic predictions of the team losing, in my life any win over canterbury has been rare, and the stat that they have not lost a Shield challenge since 1998. great win by taranaki especially keeping canterbury tryless
for anyone who still thinks fruean should be an international, watch this game he is still well off playing at test level,
congrats taranaki, manawatu in 2 weeks then the bogey team waikato - they won it off us in 1996 (the day i was hit in the head by a flying can of waikato ale and i won't forgive that one)
Posted 10:25 15th September 2012