Bay of Plenty 19 Canterbury 17
This was a contest between the percentagers, the set-piecers and the grinders (Canterbury) and the counter-attackers, the turnover kings and the flowing free spirits (the Bay).
Which is not to say the current Ranfurly Shield holders were without colour or flow. They were at their best when they had enough ball to get their renowned support play going.
Their sole try showed the benefit of the disciplined approach - with ball aplenty, first five-eighth Stephen Brett made a dab that got the defence tangled; winger Tu Umaga-Marshall made one of several bumping, penetrative runs; and continuity from the likes of flanker George Whitelock saw winger James Paterson slithering over in the corner.
Canterbury had a strong scrum, which had the Bay boys back-pedalling early, a lineout in which rangy No 8 Ash Parker added to the options of Sam and George Whitelock and Luke Romano and they did some crunching work at the breakdown. They had the advantage in possession and territory and went to halftime comfortably ahead, right?
Well, no. Brett and Colin Slade, added to the All Black squad last week, missed three shots at goal between them while Bay's Mike Delany kicked the two that were offered to him.
The Bay could also have been ahead at halftime had second five-eighth Phil Burleigh held an in-pass from one of the game's best flowing moves. From a turnover 60m out, No 8 Colin Bourke hit the gas, winger Jason Hona exposed Slade's defensive effort and his slung pass just eluded Burleigh's grasp.
The Bay were at their best like that. The same forwards getting dealt to in the set pieces were better suited to running with the ball and connecting with passes. They troubled the Cantabrians when they did so.
Never more so than when the Bay rumbled down deep into Canterbury territory and scored from a set piece. Bourke burst laterally off the scrum, his speed and strength uncorking the defence and Burleigh was gifted into the gap to score under the bar. The Bay hit the front for the first time, 13-11.
Brett fixed that with his second penalty of the half but the scene was set for a fascinating finish. Andy Ellis was all fizz and bounce, linking and running effectively, Parker had a fine debut and Romano showed some good running and passing skills.
Ryan Crotty and the third Whitelock, Adam, were efficient in midfield but the percentages just wouldn't add up properly for Canterbury. The errors did.
In contrast, Bourke was an arrow in the heart of the Canterbury defence almost every time he ran. He embarrassed All Black flanker Whitelock's openside defence with his speed and determination.
Delany got more controlling as the game went on, winning back the lead with a penalty for 16-14 and the Bay were filled with that elixir called belief. Tanerau Latimer and, until he was subbed off, Luke Braid, did a lot of digging for turnovers.
It was from one such that Latimer wheeled away for 40m when Parker passed him the ball off the back of the scrum and the resulting penalty as Canterbury scrambled in defence saw the Bay up 19-14.
Then the free-wheelers began playing percentages themselves. Delany and Burleigh kicked well and played territory whenever they could, the tackles kept raining in on the southerners and the Bay started to rule at the breakdowns.
Brett kept his nerve for a 45m penalty to close the gap to two points with 10 minutes to go but they just couldn't shake themselves free of Hori Bop's embrace. They rolled and rumbled, picked and went and searched for the gap or, at least, the penalty that would bring them three points and the win.
It never came. The tackles were made, the rucks were contested fiercely and the Bay discipline held. Deservedly.
Canterbury had four All Blacks plus Brett and Slade. The Bay had one All Black and a whole lot of heart.
Bay of Plenty 19 (P. Burleigh try; M. Delany con, 4 pen); Canterbury 17 (J. Paterson try; S. Brett 3 pen). Halftime: 6-8.
