Canterbury silence Lions' roar

Canterbury escaped the Lions' den with the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup trophy after beating Wellington 7-6 in the Final at Westpac Stadium on Saturday

Canterbury escaped the Lions' den with the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup trophy after beating Wellington 7-6 in the championship Final at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

Flanker Hayden Hopgood's try in the first half proved to be the difference between the two sides in a dire finale that certainly didn't live up to the expectations everyone had.

The rainy weather was partly to blame for this mind-numbing affair between the two top teams in the competition, but was at least supported by a half-decent crowd who braved the conditions.

But when it rains it pours, at least that's how Wellington's fans felt after watching their side bow out yet again at the final hurdle for the third time in a row, and the fifth time in six years.

The hosts only had themselves to blame for their failure to end an impressive season on a high. The Lions' dominated the territory and possession stakes, gave away far less penalties, had half the amount of handling errors and missed only thirteen tackles (compared to Canterbury's 23)… yet still managed to end second best.

Credit to Canterbury though, whose victory can be put down to some outstanding defence that shut Wellington out for the entire match, with the hosts having to rely on Piri Weepu's boot for their six points.

The look of disappointment on the Lions' faces after the final whistle was painful to watch, and they will have to wait another year for another shot at winning a piece of silverware that has now eluded them for eight years.

For Canterbury, a four-year trophy drought is over and will now take home the spoils that adds to their Super 14 achievements. Not a bad year for the men in red and black.

The game kicked off with a few tactical changes to the Wellington side, with coach Jamie Joseph opting to field Ma'a Nonu at centre instead of on the wing as initially planned.

So with the All Blacks midfield set to take on their South Island visitors, one felt Wellington were already in the driving seat before the game had even kicked off.

A shame then that they couldn't click into gear.

Ball security was the order of the day in the opening fifteen minutes, both sides not prepared to risk anything. That was until a sensational break by Weepu had Canterbury scrambling back, putting their organised defenders to the test.

They passed with flying colours, however ill-discipline failed them as Colin Slade was penalised for playing the ball from an off-side position. Weepu made sure of his side's first points of the match, and the home team were on the board after sixteen minutes played.

Canterbury, not afraid to go for the line-out, were forced to change their approach after two steals against the throw gave their opponents an unnecessary advantage.

That would all change however following some brilliant interplay between the Canterbury forwards and backs that ended with Hopgood crashing over from close-range. Hopgood may have scored the vital try, but it was centre Tim Bateman who gained the valuable metres required to put his flanker away.

As Slade added the crucial extras, Canterbury were in front and that's where they stayed from the 25th minute until the full-time. The lead could have been increased had it not been for a missed penalty attempt by the Cantabs' pivot, who did little else wrong during the entire game.

So with the scores at 7-3 in favour of the visitors, both sides headed into the half-time sheds fully aware that the game was still anyone's for the taking.

Weepu started the first half in the same fashion as the first, another Weepu penalty in the 48th minute closing the gap to a solitary point and it was game on. Sort of. The Lions blew several try-scoring opportunities in quick succession, the hosts unable to press home after spending fourteen minutes inside their opposition's 22.

Turn-over balls, scrappy scrums and balls thrown into touch were just a few of the match defining errors that cost Wellington so dearly in the second half. They needed a piece of inspirational brilliance to spark a revival, but no-one was willing to offer it.

As panic started to set in, Joseph piled on his reserves one by one, yet none of them could influence the team in a positive way. Defeat was staring the Lions straight in the eye.

With all but 30 seconds left on the clock and Canterbury holding on for dear life, Wellington were handed one last reprieve with a scrum following a Richie McCaw knock-on. But in typical fashion – and a moment that did well to sum up their evening – Canterbury huffed and puffed and shoved the Lions backwards.

The ball was back in Canterbury's possession and eventually found it's way high up in the stands after scrum-half Tyson Keats had decided that was it for the Air New Zealand Cup season.

Man of the match: Air New Zealand Cup victory might have eluded Wellington lock Ross Filipo, but if form in the Final was a pre-requisite for All Black selection then he should have booked his ticket for the season-ending tour.

Moment of the match: The final whistle? No, we won't be that harsh! In a match that offered little as far as entertainment value is concerned, we'll opt for Hayden Hopgood's try. A touchdown that ultimately won it for the Cantabs.

Villain of the match: A few bust-ups here and there, but nothing to go crying home to mother about.

The scorers:

For Wellington:
Pens: Weepu 2

For Canterbury:
Try: Hopgood
Con: Slade

Wellington: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Ma'a Nonu, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Tamati Ellison, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Piri Weepu (c), 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Chris Masoe, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 4 Ross Filipo, 3 John Schwalger, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Neemia Tialata.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Tim Fairbrother, 19 Thomas Waldrom, 20 Api Naikatini, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Tane Tu'ipulotu.

Canterbury: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Paul Williams, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Tyson Keats, 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 Steve Alfeld, 21 Hamish Gard, 22 Adam Whitelock.

Referee: Bryce Lawrence
Touch judges: Vinny Munro, Chris Pollock
TMO: Steve Walsh