Canterbury came to the party today, securing five competition points when downing a tough Wellington side in front of more than 30,000 spectators on a fine afternoon at AMI Stadium.
The CRFU, along with the NZRU, AMI Insurance, Tui, Vbase and Ticket Direct made the match free admission following the earthquakes in the Canterbury region and the fans came in their thousands to watch an enthralling game of running rugby.
Canterbury scored four tries for a bonus point win but didn’t have it their own way and trailed 13-20 at halftime before clicking into gear in the second half.
The introduction of Sonny Bill Williams at halftime was a crowd pleaser and he followed the script perfectly by scoring a great try halfway through the second spell.
Canterbury opened the scoring through a converted try to slippery wing Telusa Veainu. A tighthead scrum put Canterbury on the front foot and a good run by outstanding flanker Matt Todd had Wellington back-peddling.
Robbie Fruean held up to defenders and Sean Maitland did well to catch his pass and feed the flying Veainu for a try which Colin Slade did well to convert from out wide into a strong nor’ wester.
Slade was in the action again when kicking wide for the waiting Nasi Manu but the ball hit the corner post on the full. Still, it was the right option from Slade.
Hosea Gear wiped the smiles off Canterbury’s faces after 18 minutes when intercepting a pass from Ryan Crotty and streaking 60m down field for a seven pointer.
But a minute later Slade kicked a penalty after the Wellington forwards were stung for chasing a kick in offside positions.
A Lima Sopoaga penalty evened things up before an outstanding Manu run put the Cantabs on attack again from which they won another penalty.
Sopoaga again equalized with a penalty of his own before an overthrown lineout put the Red and Blacks under pressure in their own territory. From it Hosea Gear showed his pace and strength to go over for his second try.
Canterbury needed to start the second spell well and they got the perfect tonic when Andy Ellis scored an outstanding team try.
Maitland, Fruean and Tu Umaga-Marshall all featured, with Fruean somehow kicking the ball into his own hands and passing to Ellis under pressure for the halfback to dot down for a converted try.
Wellington prop David Te Moana was held up by the Canterbury forwards but that just delayed the inevitable as Faifili Lavave got a flyer off the back of an attacking scrum and went over.
Great work by Veainu and Todd almost resulted in a try in the left corner and they another chase by Veainu put Julian Savea under enormous pressure.
A brilliant angled run and offload by lock Luke Romano handed Maitland a try, which Slade converted from the sideline after 64 minutes and a few minutes later Williams scored the clincher for Canterbury, stepping inside Sopoaga, palming off John Schwalger and going through Charlie Ngatai for an outstanding try.
That made the score 34-25 and Canterbury were safe, although Alby Mathewson capped a fine game with a cheeky try.
Slade’s penalty pushed the margin back out to seven points and Canterbury were home.
Canterbury - tries: Telusa Veainu, Andy Ellis, Sean Maitland, Sonny Bill Williams. Cons: Colin Slade 4. Pens: Slade 3.
Wellington - tries: Hosea Gear 2, Faifili Levave, Alby Mathewson. Cons: Lima Sopoaga 2. Pens: Sopoaga 2.
HT: Wellington 20-13
Kickers:
Slade: 7 from 9
Sopoaga: 4 from 6
Canterbury:
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Corey Flynn
3. Peter Borlase (Andrew Olorenshaw 63rd min)
4. Luke Romano (Rob Verbakel 74th)
5. Isaac Ross
6. Matt Todd
7. George Whitelock (c)
8. Nasi Manu (Ash Parker 74th)
9. Andy Ellis
10. Colin Slade
11. Telusa Veainu
12. Ryan Crotty (Sonny Bill Williams HT)
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Tu Umaga-Marshall
15. Sean Maitland
Reserves not used:
16. Steve Fualau
20. Willi Heinz
21. Steve Brett