NPC division one semifinalists sorted

Local derbies have been dished up for next week's division one rugby semifinals with Canterbury hot favourites to add the NPC title to the Ranfurly Shield.

The defending champions look set to add more silverware to the cabinet after dismissing Auckland's shield challenge yesterday by four tries to none.

Canterbury topped the round robin with seven wins from nine matches and Jade Stadium will host the first semifinal on Friday night against an Otago outfit looking slightly rattled after losing 13-25 to Waikato yesterday.

That loss, and North Harbour's 31-22 win in Invercargill today, see Otago drop to fourth with the task of travelling to Christchurch.

The 'battle of the bridge' will be repeated at Eden Park on Saturday night between second-place Auckland and a confident North Harbour side who posted their sixth win of the season.

The remainder of the round-robin matches had no bearing on the final playoff positions with the matches more notable as send-offs departing players.

But all attention was focused on yesterday's shield challenge which had the potential to be a cracker.

However it failed to spark despite the great performances of All Blacks pivot Dan Carter and Canterbury No 8 Mose Tuiali'i who made a strong claim to regain his All Blacks jersey on the end-of-season tour.

The shining light was again Canterbury's ability to soak up pressure with stifling, and frequently illegal defence, before applying the killer blows to comfortably win 27-12.

This time Auckland was on the receiving end of the punches.

The fast-paced game which has benefited Auckland all season arrived at Jade Stadium, but faltered in the face of Canterbury's tackling machine which has kept three previous challengers at bay.

Canterbury's greater composure and precision resulted in three first half tries to fullback Ben Blair, hooker Corey Flynn and flanker Reuben Thorne giving the holders a 17-0 halftime lead.

Wing Scott Hamilton finished a well worked move in the final quarter to kill any faint hope Auckland had of repeating their 2003 challenge victory.

Auckland had enough possession to launch their own offensive forays, but too often a lack of accuracy and patience cost them with numerous handling lapses.

Auckland will have a chance to apply their helter-skelter approach on Saturday, but face a side just as capable of punishing teams that spill the pill.

Boasting one of the most impressive backlines this season, North Harbour's quicks again proved productive as they ruined Paul Miller's farewell bash in Invercargill today.

The usual suspects in Anthony Tuitavake, George Pisi, Rua Tipoki and Luke McAlister were on display as North Harbour scored four tries to Southland's three at Rugby Park Stadium.

Despite Ben Smith's double and Miller's try, North Harbour showed they had extra class needed to quell a gallant Southland side which bid farewell to Japan-bound Miller.

The No 8 battled well and his efforts were emulated by Waikato skipper Steven Bates as they ended a sour year slightly sweeter.

Waikato, led by No 8 Bates, first five-eighth Stephen Donald and All Blacks Byron Kelleher and Marty Holah battled to just their fourth win of the season.

Otago's attack, which blitzed Canterbury during a 20 minute period last week, was missing in action at Hamilton.

They strung together some good passages of play against the wind, but never looked like putting Waikato away.

Their effort also cost one punter $50,000 who had backed an Otago win.

In Tauranga yesterday Bay of Plenty played festival rugby in hammering hapless Northland 51-3 as they bid von voyage to key players.

Captain Wayne Ormond has chosen to chase the yen and All Blacks halfback Kevin Senio will suit up in Canterbury colours next year, and the duo were in fine form in the eight-try rout.

Senio bagged a double and Ormond rampaged all over Blue Chip Stadium, but last year's semifinalists still finished a disappointing second-to-last ahead of Northland.

In Friday night's game Wellington prevailed in the Hurricanes trial beating Taranaki 31-17.

Halfback Piri Weepu showed he's improving with each outing in a sublime display.

- NZPA