Taranaki: Celebrate their seventh Ranfurly Shield defence
Taranaki retained the Ranfurly Shield yet again after thumping Manawatu 59-18 in New Plymouth on Saturday.
The Amber and Blacks outscored the Turbos eight tries to two, crossing for six of their tries in the second half after holding a 23-10 half-time lead.
Frazier Climo collected a personal haul of 27 points - scoring two tries, three penalties and five conversions - while full-back Kurt Baker bagged a hat-trick for Taranaki.
The bonus-point victory over the struggling second-tier Championship opposition keeps Taranaki among the Premiership leaders and means they remain the only side to have lost just one match.
The scorers:
For Taranaki:
Tries: Baker 3, Climo 2, Ormond, Rickards, Taylor
Cons: Taylor, Climo 4
Pens: Climo 3
For Manawatu:
Tries: Clare, Robinson
Con: Clare
Pens: Clare 2
Taranaki: 15 Kurt Baker, 14 Andre Taylor, 13 Willie Rickards, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 Frazier Climo, 10 James Marshall, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Chris Walker, 6 Kane Barrett, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Michael Bent, 2 Laurence Corlett, 1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Sione Lea, 17 Carl Carmichael, 18 James Broadhurst, 19 Berny Hall, 20 Brett Goodin, 21 Isaia Tuifua, 22 Jackson Ormond.
Manawatu: 15 Lewis Marshall, 14 Craig Clare, 13 Jason Emery, 12 Matenga Baker, 11 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 10 Tomasi Cama, 9 Papa Wharewera, 8 Hamish Gosling, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Nick Crosswell (c), 5 Michael FitzGerald, 4 Fraser Stone, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Rob Foreman, 1 Grant Polson.
Replacements: 16 Bryn Templeman, 17 David Te Moana, 18 Reece Robinson, 19 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 20 Karl Bryson, 21 Nathan George, 22 Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
Referee: Mike Fraser
Comments
Ramage says...
Great to see the Naki doing well the Province that has given me many good memories of my time in Rugby there. Its great watching how Coops has that team working for one another. Good luck on Wednesday against the Waikato and make sure you not only keep the Shield but add the Ryan Wheeler Memorial Trophy as well. onwards and upwards.
Posted 12:38 30th September 2012
Ferdie says...
and 3-try-man Kurt Baker can't get a Super contract for next year - NZ Sevens player, a good season for Taranaki, be a shame is he heads offshore at just 23.
Posted 01:05 30th September 2012
Ferdie says...
good to see Andre Taylor back, didn't expect to him to return this season.
Waikato the next match and final defence of the year - sure they won't underestimate them, a case of 'never forget' when they took the RS in 1996.
After that away games to Southland and Wellington won't be easy, just watched Wellington and another team with plenty of talent.
Top marks again to coach Cooper for managing player game-time well this season, the three-in-eight-days that all teams have encountered makes it tough, no time to actually train in between, and the team changes seem to have run very smoothly for them this season.
Posted 10:59 29th September 2012
bk47 says...
One game away from keeping the shield for the summer! Also top of the table now. Is more silverware heading to amber and black country?
Posted 09:02 29th September 2012
melkdave says...
I have to say the ITM cup remains the tourament to watch atm,most of the games are superb ,full of invention ,creatativity and tries.Also the amount of potential class players seemingly available in NZ is frightening to say the least lol.The conveyor belt is in overdrive it looks like atm.Just wondr how many will end up playing S15 in Australia next season ,as it does look a trend atm
Posted 08:17 29th September 2012