Rugby: BoP go top after pipping Canterbury

Bay of Plenty's Mike Delany and Canterbury's Anrew Ellis joust for the ball at Baypark Stadium, Mt Mauganui.

From the sublime to the scratchy, Canterbury were out-passioned 19-17 by Bay of Plenty in a tense Air NZ Cup rugby match at Mt Maunganui.

A week after hoisting the Ranfurly Shield in brilliant style, an error-prone Canterbury side missing most of their All Blacks struggled to crack Bay of Plenty's staunch defence at Baypark Stadium.

In front of a jubilant crowd, the hosts reclaim the competition lead which they ceded to the Cantabs last week, following a first loss, against Auckland.

They will end the sixth round ahead of Southland on points differential, with competition favourites Canterbury a point back in third after suffering their first loss since week one.

Bay of Plenty proved they are genuine title contenders with a disciplined display which was led from the front by captain and No 8 Colin Bourke.

He was a constant handful with his pace and power off the back of the scrum while flanker Tanerau Latimer was a superb deputy with his work at the breakdown.

Canterbury weren't their efficient selves at the tackle, making uncharacteristic mistakes to go with a swag of handling errors that pockmarked their performance.

Bay of Plenty were forced to make more than twice as many tackles and their effort was typified after the final hooter when they withstood a Canterbury raid that lasted 17 phases.

As usual, first five-eighth Mike Delany was a steady figure and the chief source of points. After missing his first shot, Delany was successful with his next five in a 12-point haul.

Both sides scored one try but Delany narrowly won a goalkicking duel with opposite Stephen Brett. Both kicked four penalties but Brett missed the conversion of his team's try, scored by winger James Paterson in the 26th minute.

Down 6-8 at halftime, the hosts lifted their intensity and were rewarded with a try to second five-eighth Phil Burleigh in the 48th minute. Burleigh was part of last year's Canterbury squad but a lack of opportunities saw the son of former long-serving Canterbury back Wayne Burleigh shift north, where he is shining for the leaders.

Canterbury's frustration was summed up by prop Wyatt Crockett's punch to All Blacks squad teammate Latimer, for which he was penalised in a crucial moment late in the fixture.

Crockett was part of a strong scrum effort but that was one of the few elements of Canterbury's game that functioned well.

- NZPA