Canterbury secured five competition points with their most complete performance of the season – a 44-22 victory over North Harbour at AMI Stadium tonight.
Robbie Fruean’s try-scoring form continued, the big centre scoring three tries to take his tally to five from two games to ensure George Whitelock could lift the Kevin Gimblett Memorial Trophy afterwards (pictured).
The other try scorers were Matt Todd, Sam Monaghan and Telusa Veainu.
Canterbury enjoyed a vast territorial advantage and also won the lion’s share of possession – forcing North Harbour to survive off scraps.
Yet the men from the North Shore hung in there, at least in the first half, although the match was effectively won by Canterbury at half-time, a 22-10 scoreline a big one for the visitors to overturn.
Colin Slade got the Red and Blacks on the board with a penalty after two minutes – after Harbour ball chasers were offside.
A Michael Harris penalty evened things up after Canterbury were caught offside at a ruck.
Then Harris added a further seven points from a try and a conversion. A promising Canterbury move on the left broke down after Veainu seemed to be tackled without the ball and No8 Richard Mayhew combined with wing Josh York to put Harris over.
Canterbury struck back straight from the kick-off. Lock Isaac Ross skillfully claimed the re-start and Stephen Brett threw a perfect cut-out pass to a flying Sean Maitland. Monghan did well to step inside a defender and go over.
Soon after, Todd scored his try, the blindside flanker pouncing on loose ball after more good work by Maitland.
Slade converted for a 15-10 lead.
A few minutes before halftime, Fruean scored his first try following a long passage of play when running a nice angle on to a Brett pass.
Slade converted to give Canterbury a 22-10 lead.
Fruean nearly got another after halftime when chasing a Brett kick but the ball failed to bounce for him.
On the other side of the field, Veainu was in the action, scoring in the corner after great building up work between No8 Ash Parker and Ross.
Ross ran on to a fine pass by Parker, drew the defence and fired a flat pass out to Veainu who did the rest.
Fruean’s second try occurred in the 66th minute following good work by replacement No8 Nasi Manu, the big No13 proving too strong for the defence close to the line.
Jack Tarrant pulled a try back from Harbour after a good interchange with Luke McAlister before Slade pulled off an amazing piece of cover defence to deny Ben Botica a try in the corner.
Still, Josh York scored following sustained Harbour pressure to make it 32-22 before Canterbury stepped it up again, scoring tries through Ross and Fruean again.
Ross’s try, which came when he bulldozed his way over from a ruck close to the line, was deserved. He was one of Canterbury’s best tonight, with his work in the lineouts and especially his defence, which was outstanding.
Returning All Blacks Corey Flynn and Sam Whitelock added a lot to Canterbury’s effort. Flynn’s defence was very good and he made several important tackles, while Whitelock’s work rate was again first class and he combined well with Ross to trouble Harbour at lineout time.
Wing Monaghan continued his exciting start to the season, while halfback Takerei Norton had a debut to celebrate.
Manu, back from a knee injury, showed plenty of enthusiasm when coming on to the field and he will be a real asset to the Canterbury loose forward mix.
Canterbury – Tries: Robbie Fruean 3, Matt Todd, Sam Monaghan, Telusa Veainu. Cons: Slade 3. Pen: Slade.
North Harbour – Tries: Michael Harris, Jack Tarrant, Josh York. Con: Harris, Ben Botica. Pen: Harris.
Canterbury:
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Corey Flynn (Paul Ngauamo 69th)
3. Peter Borlase (Andrew Olorenshaw 61st)
4. Sam Whitelock (Luke Romano 69th)
5. Isaac Ross
6. Matt Todd
7. George Whitelock (c)
8. Ash Parker (Nasi Manu 48th)
9. Takerei Norton (Andy Ellis 48th)
10. Colin Slade
11. Telusa Veainu (Patrick Osborne 61st)
12. Stephen Brett
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Sam Monaghan
15. Sean Maitland (Robbie Flynn 61st)