ITM Cup round three: Canterbury gets back on form against North Harbour
Canterbury were able to get back to championship form over the weekend after a difficult first two rounds.
Canterbury looked sluggish early on but found their game in the middle of the first half and never looked back. Making a mockery of the North Harbour defence, the home side slotted home an impressive seven tries, to finish off a 44-22 win.
Recap
Canterbury opened the scoring with a Colin Slade penalty, which was quickly countered by the visitor’s Michael Harris, to keep the game tied at three.
Harris looked strong early as he helped Harbour take the lead, after Canterbury fumbled the ball, scoring a try to give Harbour a 10-3 lead.
However, it did not take long for the reigning champions to respond, as Sam Monaghan finished off a beautiful run from Isaac Ross to cut the lead to 10-8.
Canterbury was able to steal back the lead when Corey Flynn crossed the whitewash for the squad’s second try of the game. Slade registered the conversion and the lead was pushed to 15-10.
Robbie Fruean would add another try for the home side, while Slade knocked through the conversion to give Canterbury a 22-10 lead at halftime.
After the break Canterbury continued to show their superior form as Telusa Veainu scurried his way over the line to record the bonus-try early in the second-half.
With 15 minutes left in the match Canterbury’s Fruean bowled his way over the line for his second try of the day, to make it 32-17.
Harbour managed to get back in the match briefly, when Jack Tarrant pushed his way across the whitewash to cut the lead, shortly after Josh York muscled his way over the line again for Harbour to cut the lead to 32-22.
However, Canterbury proved too much as Ross clambered his way over the line, and Fruean notched his third try of the day in the final minute to finish off a 44-22 Canterbury win.
Canterbury finally opened up on offense and showed why they are once again the favourites to raise the ITM Cup at year’s end. Fruean was particularly solid, as the centre managed the hat-trick.
North Harbour ran into an inspired Canterbury side, and simply could not keep up. Harbour has played solid rugby thus far this season, and their three tries against a tough opponent are testament to that fact.
Analysis
Canterbury has let the rest of the field know that they have now arrived, and their slow start was simply a blip on what promises to be another impressive season.
North Harbour simply needs to regroup. They cannot dwell too long on a game that was a tough grind from the first whistle.
Tags: