Northland lock Josh Goodhue goes through Canterbury's Ryan Crotty to score his first try. Photo/John Stone
Northland lock Josh Goodhue goes through Canterbury's Ryan Crotty to score his first try. Photo/John Stone
A rare hattrick from Josh Goodhue wasn't enough as Northland slumped to their fourth defeat of the Mitre 10 Cup.
Facing a rampant Canterbury side, a 52-34 defeat showed a lot of steel but showed some defensive deficiencies.
Canterbury were always going to be the dominant side, but Northland inspite of conceding at a point of minute at the start of the game made their own contribution in a superb demonstration of positive intent and a refusal to be daunted
Things didn't look good early for the Taniwha as wing Marshall Suckling crossed for the first try 1min 48sec into the game, the die was cast.
Canterbury revelled in the perfect conditions with long periods of phase play as passes, both short and long, were moved around the field as they probed for openings.
Initially they came the way of tries to the wings Suckling and George Bridge, on debut, and snaring two in the first half. But they were joined by fullback Johnny McNicholl and centre Jack Goodhue, both having been heavily involved in earlier try-scoring movements.
It all seemed too easy for Canterbury but they became victims of their own success as they went through a flat patch and Northland pounced.
They scored in the 25th minute courtesy of a lineout drive which yielded the first of three tries on the night for lock Josh Goodhue, the twin brother of the Canterbury centre.
His second came from a lineout drive and the third was a chargedown of first five-eighths Ben Volavola's attempted clearing kick.
But Volavola did enough with the ball in hand to demonstrate his skill in the role and when he was substituted Jordie Barrett came out to play at second five-eighths and picked up a 59th minute try.
Fullback Solomon Alaimalo looks for the gap. Photo/John Stone
Josh Goodhue had a big night for Northland but flanker Jam Ram had a busy time of it in the loose while halfback Sam Nock was busy in keeping Northland in the hunt for a long period of the game. They had their reward in the 66th minute when replacement forward Howard Sililoto scored the bonus point try.
Soon after Sililoto was in the action again when the victim of a shoulder charge from Canterbury prop Lee Roy Atalifo and when they exchanged punches it was Atalifo who was sin-binned to miss the last seven minutes of the game.
Canterbury 52 (Marshall Suckling 2, George Bridge 2, Johnny McNicholl, Jack Goodhue, Matt Todd, Jordie Barrett tries; Ben Volavola 2 con; Richie Mo'unga con; Barrett pen) Northland 34 (Josh Goodhue 3, Howard Sililoto tries; Dan Hawkins 4 con, 2 pen) HT: 13-32
