Canterbury overcame a tough week to beat Northland in a thrilling finish 27-24 in Whangarei today.
Desperate defence from the Red and Blacks held out Northland as the home team sought the match-winning try.
The Northland pack actually got over Canterbury’s line but hooker Steve Fualau did well to hold the ball up and prevent the try.
Earlier Canterbury had defended heroically without captain George Whitelock, who was sinbinned for an alleged ruck offence just after the hour mark.
But hold out they did and it was a tremendously brave victory for the visitors, who had to put Canterbury’s earthquake last Saturday and the aftershocks throughout the week behind them.
Canterbury had got off to a good start, scoring three first-half tries, with Sonny Bill Williams having a big part to play in all of them.
After about four minutes George Whitelock stole a Northland lineout and released to Stephen Brett. The ball found its way to Robbie Fruean via a fine Williams offload and the big centre went through two would-be tacklers to score his eighth try of the season.
Two Lachie Munro penalties narrowed the gap to 7-6 before Luke Romano went over for his second try of the season.
Williams was again the provider, flicking an extraordinary offload inside to Romano, who did well to control it and dive over.
Fellow lock Isaac Ross was the next beneficiary of a Williams pass, following a good inside ball from Peter Borlase.
At 21-6, Canterbury were cruising but back Northland came.
The home side drove over from a lineout, with former Crusaders prop Bronson Murray emerging from the melee to claim the try, which was converted by Munro.
And the first-five kicked a late penalty to close the halftime gap to 21-16.
Canterbury enjoyed a territorial advantage but Northland had more possession and converted every time they got into enemy territory.
Things got worse for the Red and Blacks after halftime as Northland emerged fired up and determined to continue their momentum.
From a rare Canterbury attack, halfback Andy Ellis popped over a close-range left-foot drop goal to push the score out to 24-16 but Northland came storming back through No8 Cameron Eyre – again from a lineout drive.
Munro kicked a penalty to narrow the gap to 24-23 and with Whitelock in the sin bin and Canterbury struggling to hold possession, the alarm bells were ringing.
However, Brett snapped over an excellent left-foot drop goal to push the gap out to 27-23 to give his side some breathing space. But Northland kept pressing and almost scored the crucial try which would have broken Canterbury’s hearts.
It was a courageous effort from Canterbury, who rarely got any favours from the match officials, although lock Pat O’Connor was rightly sinbinned for a dangerous tackle on Ellis in the second half.
Brett, in his second start of the season at first-five, controlled things well for Canterbury and showed touches of brilliance.
Matt Todd had a great game on the blindside flank and No8 Ash Parker had one of his best matches of the season.
Fualau got through a load of work at hooker and Williams was a revelation at second-five, especially in the first half.
Canterbury -Tries: Robbie Fruean, Luke Romano, Isaac Ross. Cons: Stephen Brett 3. DGs: Andy Ellis, Brett.
Northland – Tries: Bronson Murray, Cameron Eyre. Cons: Lachie Munro 2. Pens: Munro 3.
Kickers:
Brett: 4 from 5 (incl DG)
Munro: 5 from 6.
Canterbury:
1. Andrew Olorenshaw
2. Steve Fualau
3. Peter Borlase
4. Luke Romano (Rob Verbakel 73rd min)
5. Isaac Ross
6. Matt Todd
7. George Whitelock (c)
8. Ash Parker
9. Andy Ellis
10. Stephen Brett
11. Telusa Veainu
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Patrick Osborne
15. Sean Maitland
reserves not used:
16. Marcel Cummings-Toone
17. Rodney Ah You
19. Brendon O'Connor
20. Willi Heinz
21. Sam Monaghan
22. Robbie Flynn