Snoozers, not losers

When Canterbury can play a whole game in third gear and never look like losing, it's little wonder they are the scourge of the TAB.

It might even be generous to suggest Canterbury reached third gear yesterday. Maybe in the final quarter they did, but for the first 60 minutes they couldn't find a rhythm. Largely because it seemed some of the team had smeared their fingers in butter, the rest opting to play with one half of their brain on snooze function.

Yet, despite committing a litany of unforced handling errors, kicking the ball aimlessly and lacking that cohesive authority we have come to expect, Canterbury were in control from start to finish.

That could suggest the Bay are really not the force they were last season. One delightful break from first-five Murray Williams aside, they certainly lacked the penetrative edge they had when Glen Jackson and Rua Tipoki were on deck.

But the Bay forwards were full of bustle and enterprise, driving hard round the fringes and efficient in both set-pieces. So what we should probably deduce is that Canterbury have so much ability, so much power, that they can coast against all bar the very best.

It has to be a worry for those teams looking to knock Canterbury off their perch that the defending champions can play so deep within themselves and still look ominous.

Ominous because we know that over the next weeks Campbell Johnstone and Greg Somerville will get their scrum engagement right.

Yesterday they couldn't persuade referee Lyndon Bray they were going about their business within the laws of the game and built penal records matched only by the first settlers of Tasmania.

When that power is unleashed legally, Canterbury will have the platform to use a backline that hasn't tried to reinvent the wheel.

The Canterbury backs do nothing more enterprising than run hard and straight. There is a pleasing unfussiness to their work which was made easier in the final quarter when the forwards finally found continuity and delivered an abundance of quality possession.

And when it comes the backs' way, the ball is moved wide early and struck at pace from depth.

That was the foundation for all their tries, although Scott Hamilton offered a clever variation when he chipped ahead and regathered.

Hamilton's try was further proof he has subtly evolved from cart horse to thoroughbred. He's deceptively quick with a dinky range of skills that wouldn't have him out of place in a black jersey on the end-of-season tour.

Nor would young lock Kevin O'Neill be a bad choice for that end-of-season trip. He meets all the physical requirements of a test lock and yesterday put in a performance that belied his lack of experience.

He took the first kick-off cleanly, then went on to hog the ball at the lineout and scamper around like a loose forward. This time last year, there was a horribly bare cupboard in terms of locking resources.

On display at Jade yesterday was not only the hugely promising O'Neill but also the Bay's Bernie Upton, who battled tirelessly.

Those who parted with some of their hard-earned to back the men in red and black can probably start thinking now what to do with their winnings.

Canterbury 40

(C. Laulala, S. Hamilton, C. McIntyre, C. Flynn tries; B. Blair 3 cons, 4 pens, L. MacDonald con).

BoP 13

(A. Tahana try; M. Williams con, 2 pens).

- HERALD ON SUNDAY