Played in sunny but windy conditions, Canterbury took time to find their rhythm and never looked totally composed against a Turbos side determined to return home with a win.

Manawatu scored after three and a half minutes when first five-eight Matty James latched on to a pass by Canterbury hooker Steve Fualau to scamper away for a try. The conversion gave the visitors an unexpected 7-0 lead.

Canterbury had an opportunity to narrow the gap two minutes later, although first five-eight Hamish Gard was off target with a difficult penalty.

Manawatu was competitive in the first quarter, while Canterbury struggled to gain any momentum. It was rugby typical of a first match: chaotic, eager but inaccurate.

A forward pass prevented Canterbury’s James Broadhurst from scoring after 13 minutes, although the home side would have rejoiced in putting a number of phases together.

The swirling wind was proving difficult for both sides. Several high balls were dropped and a number of kicks across the field were inaccurate as both sides struggled for momentum.

Gard had his second penalty attempt after 19 minutes, this time being successful. His kick just went over, but it was much needed as Canterbury was at last on the board.

Two minutes later the visitors went close to extending their lead. Winger Andre Taylor was prevented from scoring only after Canterbury half-back Tyson Keats was outstanding on defence after a dangerous kick through. 

Manawatu was proving to be resolute on defence and very dangerous on the counter-attack. Although they were the underdogs going in to the match, they showed no willingness to roll over and get their belly scratched.

Canterbury went close again five minutes later when a crisp backline movement saw left winger James Paterson bundled in to touch by the outstanding Taylor.

Keats (arguably Canterbury’s best in the first half) scored after 35 minutes when he took a free kick close to the Manawatu line and the visitor’s defence went AWOL. The conversion gave Canterbury a 10-7 lead near to half-time.

Canterbury would have been disappointed with their performance in the first half. It was too inaccurate and although conditions had made it tough, they would have expected more from themselves.

Manawatu regained the lead after three minutes in the second half when Taylor showed huge determined to toe the ball through and win the foot race against Scott Hamilton after a Canterbury attack had broken down.

Canterbury struck back immediately though when centre Adam Whitelock chased through a probing kick by second-five Tim Bateman to score relatively easily. The conversion gave Canterbury the lead 17-12.

James narrowed the lead to 17-15 straight after with a penalty, although at last Canterbury appeared to be building some momentum and playing across the advantage line.

Adam Whitelock was in again after 13 minutes after a quick through-in by Keats and a strong break by Tim Bateman saw a beautiful feed to Whitelock and an easy run-in.

Now 24-15 ahead, Canterbury showed enough confidence to get the ball wide at most opportunities. Manawatu, though, was far from beaten and they camped for some minutes in the Canterbury half of the field.

The scoring slowed in the middle of the second half as the game began to lack structure. Both sides were like enemy forces in trench warfare: each too scared to venture out.

Replacement Aaron Cruden had an opportunity to narrow Canterbury’s lead after 64 minutes, his kick beautifully spiraling between the posts to make it 24-18 to the hosts.

With the match evenly poised, Manawatu continued to attack and were rewarded after 73 minutes when Taylor broke through some weak defence to score near the posts. Cruden converted and Manawatu were ahead 25-24.

With the clocking ticking down the game became frantic. Canterbury attacked every way they could think of but chose not to set up for a drop kick.

They got their last chance when just before the final whistle they were awarded a penalty some 42 metres out. Replacement Colin Slade had the opportunity to save Canterbury’s blushes.

The kick in to the wind was sweet and it sailed close to the posts, but not close enough. The Manawatu players raised their arms in delight as they celebrated their first win against Canterbury in the newly revised Air New Zealand Cup.  

Canterbury was naturally disappointed after the match. While it was more a case of Manawatu winning the match than Canterbury losing it, it still hurt like an open wound.

That said, there were a number of good individual performances from the Canterbury side. Half-back Keats looked sharp, while midfielder Bateman was outstanding.

Lock Sam Whitelock had a promising Air New Zealand Cup debut, while his brother Adam also showed plenty of promise and ran hard.

Yet it was Manawatu’s day. They came to AMI Stadium as rank outsiders and returned home as conquering victors. How sweet the spoils of success for the Turbos.

Canterbury 24: Tries: Adam Whitelock (2), Tyson Keats. Conversions: Hamish Gard (3). Penalty: Hamish Gard.

Manawatu 25: Tries: Aaron Taylor (2), Matthew James. Conversions: Matthew James, Aaron Cruden.  Penalties: Matthew James, Aaron Cruden.