McIntyre lifts Canterbury to Cup and Shield win

Canterbury 24 Southland 7

Cameron McIntyre kicked 14 points as Canterbury beat Southland 24-7 in their Air New Zealand Cup rugby match at Jade Stadium tonight.

McIntyre, playing at second five-eighth, was one of the most effective backs in the match and capped a fine all-round game with four successful penalties and a conversion. He missed two shots but kept the scores nicely ticking over at regular intervals in the match doubling as Canterbury's Ranfurly Shield defence.

Canterbury were never in danger of losing from the moment fullback Ben Blair scored a try in the 17th minute and McIntyre potted in the conversion.

Though Southland, showing their usual determination, hit back almost immediately to equalise with a Hale-T-Pole try, converted by Blair Stewart, McIntyre's kicking nudged Canterbury ahead and kept them in front.

He kicked two penalties to take them out to a 13-7 lead at halftime and added another two in the second half.

Though Southland had a strong pack, the Canterbury players were just that much classier even though they had only a six-point advantage to show for the 70 per cent possession and even more territorial advantage they enjoyed in the first half.

Their difficulty was a lack of speed in recycling the ball, and Southland had much to do with that. After a few phases Canterbury would run into crowded defences that killed the momentum of the attacks.

But when they did manage to move the ball quickly using the width of the field, as they did after a lineout drive in the 17th minute and fullback Blair scored, Southland looked in grave trouble.

However, they couldn't do that often enough to cause any real impact on the score board for the first 40 minutes.

Southland's T-Pole and Dion Bates got amidst Canterbury's attacks and either spoiled their progress or turned over the ball altogether to put the homeside on the backfoot occasionally.

Canterbury's seven-point advantage after McIntyre had converted Blair's try lasted just four minutes.

Canterbury lost the ball in a backline attack and second five-eighth Jason Kawau counter-attacked, taking play within five metres of the goal line. A few surges by the forwards saw T-Pole score and Blair Stewart convert it.

McIntyre kicked two more penalties for Canterbury's 13-7 halftime lead and succeeded with a third 11 minutes into the second half before hardworking lock Craig Clarke scored against a 14-man Southland.

Taking advantage of lock Hoani Macdonald's sinbinning, Canterbury drove Southland back in the forwards and moved the ball wide to overcome the defence and Clarke, who had been popping up everywhere on the field finished the moved over the line.

McIntyre missed the conversion but was on target a minute from the end with his fourth penalty.

Canterbury 24 (Ben Blair, Craig Clarke tries; Cameron McIntyre 4 pen, con)
Southland 7 (Hale T-Pole try; Blair Stewart con). Halftime: 13-7.

- NZPA