Canterbury exposed the huge chasm between first and second division teams with their 85-0 Ranfurly Shield win over Nelson Bays at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, yesterday.
A largely second-string Canterbury side ended the match with 13 tries, 10 of them converted by fullback Ben Blair, as Nelson Bays struggled with the pace and intensity in a one-sided contest.
Canterbury led 38-0 at halftime and continued to put last year's NPC second division champions to the sword after the break as Nelson Bays paid dearly for a host of turnovers.
Nelson Bays competed well enough in the set phases with an effective scrummaging effort and some accurate lineout work.
But they simply could not breach a superb Canterbury defensive screen that constantly cut down their attacks.
The tackling was unrelenting as Nelson Bays' ball carriers were battered into submission.
The one time that centre Saul Luamanuvae managed to break clear midway through the first half, a smothering tackle on the line forced a five-metre scrum from which Canterbury eventually cleared.
Winger Steven Yates scored three tries, while centre Casey Laulala scored the first two inside the opening six minutes to give some hint of the carnage to come.
Nelson Bays kept the scoreline to a relatively manageable 17-0 four minutes before halftime, but an alarming three-try burst before the interval saw Canterbury assume total control.
Lock Kevin O'Neill and flanker Hayden Hopgood were outstanding for Canterbury, and first five-eighths Cameron McIntyre showed plenty of control with his kicking and running.
Nelson Bays coach Wayne Love conceded his team had few answers to Canterbury's approach, but said they never stopped trying.
- NZPA
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