Canterbury take aim at hat-trick
Canterbury will host the final of the 2010 ITM Cup in a bid to win three consecutive titles for the first time after beating Wellington 57-41 in Christchurch on Friday.
The semifinal was an all-action affair with 60 points being scored in the first half alone and the match seemingly in the balance at 43-41 with ten minutes left on the clock.
Canterbury managed to score twice in the dying minutes to take the game away from a determined Wellington team; The forwards and backs managing one try each in a high-intensity ending to the match.
A Canterbury attacking line-out resulted in a try to Isaac Ross, and the win was sealed by a try in the corner from wing Telusa Veainu.
Up until that point the game had been very tight with both kickers putting on impressive displays. Canterbury flyhalf Colin Slade did not miss one of his 11 kicks and Wellington’s Lima Sopoaga slotted eight from nine.
Both teams showed off their attacking prowess, with nine tries being scored in total. However the flimsiness of their respective defensive systems will surely be a cause for concern at this late stage of the season.
Canterbury will play the winners of Saturday’s semifinal between Auckland and Waikato at home in next weekend’s final.
The scorers:
For Canterbury:
Tries: Veainu 2, Fualau, Maitland, Fruean, Ross
Cons: Slade 6
Pens: Slade 5
For the Wellington Lions:
Tries: Savea, Stewart, Vito, Perenara
Cons: Sopoaga 3
Pens: Sopoaga 5
The teams:
Canterbury: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Telusa Veainu, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Ash Parker, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Peter Borlase, 2 Steve Fualau, 1 Wyatt Crockett (captain).
Replacements: 16 Paul Ngauamo, 17 Andrew Olorenshaw, 18 Rob Verbakel, 19 Brendon O’Connor, 20 Takerei Norton, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Sam Monaghan.
Wellington: 15 Apoua Stewart, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Tajhon Mailata, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Alapati Leiua, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Dane Coles, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Reg Goodes, 18 Brad Shields, 19 Dean Brunsdon, 20 Ruki Tipuna, 21 Fa’atonu Fili, 22 Charles Ngatai.
Referee: Keith Brown
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson, Nick Briant
TMO: Ben Skeen
