Rugby: Clinical Canterbury account for Auckland

Sean Maitland of Canterbury breaks through the defence. Photo / Getty Images

Normal service was resumed for Canterbury as they constructed a clinical 35-16 ITM Cup win over Auckland in Christchurch last night.

Sixth on the table going into the match, and with only one win from four games, the defending champions were in desperate need of a victory.

After last week's lethargic 25-27 loss to Tasman, Canterbury coach Rob Penney demanded a vastly improved performance against Auckland.

He got it, right from the first whistle. It was all Canterbury in the opening minutes -- they dominated territory and possession, moving the ball with speed and precision to keep Auckland on the back foot.

With their scrum rock solid, the home team were intimidating in the set piece, setting the base for 15 unanswered points in a tick over 10 minutes.

First five-eighth Colin Slade opened the scoring with a regulation penalty in the fourth minute before hooker Corey Flynn sabotaged Auckland at the breakdown.

From turnover ball, returning halfback Andy Ellis kicked behind the Auckland defence. Auckland winger Charles Piutau lost his footing and the ball, and Canterbury rookie lock Luke Romano was on hand to pick up and dive over for the try.

Four minutes later, New Zealand under-20 winger Telusa Veainu destroyed a promising Auckland attack with a superbly timed intercept, which left him with a 40m saunter to the tryline.

As the half progressed, Auckland finally managed to get ball in hand, but had only two Matt Berquist penalties to show for it, one a particularly fine 45 effort.

Right on the halftime hooter, Canterbury added another Slade penalty to go into the break 18-6 ahead.

Slade and Berquist exchanged penalties as the second half opened, then the match settled into something of an arm-wrestle until a brilliantly placed Ellis grubber kick found the rampaging Robbie Fruean, who touched down between the sticks.

Trailing by 19 with 20 minutes to go, Auckland kept hammering at the Canterbury line, but were thwarted as much by their own high turnover rate as by some outstanding Canterbury defence.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, elusive fullback Sean Maitland crossed for the bonus point try, although Auckland flanker Onosai'i Auva'a bulldozed over for a consolation try in the 75th minute.

Canterbury 35 (Luke Romano, Telusa Veainu, Robbie Fruean, Sean Maitland tries; Colin Slade 3 pen, 3 con) Auckland 16 (Onosai'i Auva'a try; Matt Berquist 3 pen, Ash Moeke con). Halftime: 18-6.

- NZPA