Canterbury book a date with Lions
Canterbury will meet Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup Final after dispatching a spirited Hawke's Bay outfit 31-21 in an entertaining semi-final encounter at AMI Stadium on Saturday.
Canterbury will meet Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup Final after dispatching a spirited Hawke's Bay outfit 31-21 in an entertaining semi-final encounter at AMI Stadium on Saturday.
With the scores tied 14-14 at the break, it certainly wasn't one-way traffic for the men in red and black with the Magpies throwing everything at their hosts but the kitchen sink.
However two tries from Canterbury in quick succession in the final quarter of the match killed off Hawke's Bay's chances and any upset that came with it.
It was always going to be a closely fought semi-final, and hats must be tipped to the visitors who gave it their all but couldn't quite keep up the tempo with the home side who showed why they are hot favourites to win the title.
The Hawke's Bay pack stuck to their task better than when Canterbury dominated them in their first meeting, but the backs were unable to produce some of the magical moves which had marked their recent matches.
Instead it was Canterbury who brought along their magic wand and threatened right from the off – spreading the ball from side to side. And they nearly had a try in the corner had it not been for some remarkable defence from Israel Dagg on James Paterson.
The big hit left Paterson dazed and he was forced to have an earlier than expected shower with barely a minute up on the clock.
His able replacement Adam Whitelock had hardly warmed his seat on the replacement's bench before he was summoned into action.
With Hawke's Bay having to defend their line, two bad calls by referee Bryce Lawrence – who didn't have the best day at the office – allowed Canterbury their first chance at three points. Justice prevailed though when Cantab pivot Colin Slade missed from bang-on in front.
With a slight breeze behind them, Hawke's Bay opted to use the aerial route more often than not, kicking away the majority of possession that was given to them.
Surprisingly, it was the Magpies that struck first after Canterbury were caught napping.
With Hawke's Bay hammering at the hosts' line, an incoming penalty was signalled by the ref, however advantage was still being played. The Canterbury players were waiting for Lawrence to blow his whistle, but not Karl Lowe.
The Magpies' flanker taught his opposition a lesson to always play to the whistle as he burst down the blind side through two tackles for Hawke's Bay's opening try – Canterbury duo Scott Hamilton and Andy Ellis guilty of some sloppy defence.
Matt Berquist's touchline conversion was a beauty and brought an eerie silence over the sparse crowd.
The home side replied back in typical Canterbury fashion after a stupendous break from Slade saw the fly-half weave his way through the Magpies defence. With just one Magpie to beat, Slade calmly drew the defender and put Ellis away under the posts.
Slade added the extras to level the scores at 7-7 with sixteen minutes of the match played.
With the early jitters settled, Canterbury started to play an expansive game, stretching the defence, but Hawke's Bay held on and, on the back of an intercept and a quick-tap following a free kick, Lowe burst through for his second try as a fracas took place away from the ball.
Berquist again converted to put his team in front, 14-7.
Again, Canterbury replied in excellent fashion thanks to the work of Slade who made the first and scored the second after a patient build-up from his forwards and backs alike.
With the hosts camped on their visitor's line, the pressure finally told as Slade sliced through to score and convert to level the scores once more.
Hooker Corey Flynn went excruciatingly close to scoring before the break, but his diving attempt to place the ball down in mid-air found the wrong end of the chalk dust… and Danny Lee's head.
It was the Magpies' skipper's try-saving tackle that saved his team a certain five points, however his brave heroics also cost him the rest of the match – ultimately his last for Hawke's Bay.
Lee's early departure aside, the visitors would have been happy going into the half-time sheds even-stevens at fourteen points apiece, as a thrilling second half awaited the few who turned up to watch.
But the second half was a frustratingly stop-start affair with neither team really threatening to run away with the game.
Canterbury won a tighthead on attack six minutes after the break, but failed to capitalise and Hawke's Bay worked themselves into Canterbury's 22 where they spent a good time on attack without reward.
The deadlock was broken in the 59th minute though, when Canterbury forced a turnover in midfield and sent the ball through the hands. Clever passing put lock Michael Paterson in the clear and he raced 20 metres to score under the crossbar leaving Slade an easy conversion.
Two minutes after the restart, a messy maul from Hawke's Bay allowed Hamilton to hack a loose ball ahead which was chased and collected superbly before offloading to his skipper Kieran Read, who also dotted down under the posts.
Slade's ensuing conversion had the home team ahead 28-14, and with a penalty to follow, Hawke's Bay looked dead and buried.
They never gave up though, Canterbury were forced to turn and chase Hawke's Bay lock Johan Snyman following a charge-down by the big South African off a Tim Bateman clearance.
What looked to be the beginning of an amazing fightback, was quickly put to bed after some brilliant defence from Slade and Tyson Keats ended with Snyman rolling on his back, preventing him to place the ball down.
Hawke's Bay's endeavours brought a deserved try two minutes from time to Bryn Evans after some good inter-passing had the lock over for what was merely a consolation try.
Berquist ended the match with a 100 per cent kicking record, adding the conversion but the final whistle went with Canterbury now having a chance to win their first piece of provincial silverware since 2004.
For Canterbury:
Tries: Ellis, Slade, Paterson, Read
Cons: Slade 4
Pen: Slade
For Hawke's Bay:
Tries: Lowe 2, Evans
Cons: Berquist 3
Canterbury: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Paul Williams, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 James Paterson, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Hayden Hopgood, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Michael Paterson, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Steve Fualau, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Nasi Manu, 19 George Whitelock, 20 Tyson Keats, 21 Hamish Gard, 22 Adam Whitelock.
Hawke's Bay: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Jason Kupa, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Sam Giddens, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Danny Lee (c), 8 George Naoupu, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Michael Johnson, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Johan Snyman, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Hikawera Elliot, 1 Faka'anaua Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Josh Keys, 18 Matt Egan, 19 Pama Petia, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Aayden Clarke, 22 Mark