Rugby: Huge upset as Northland win

By Wynne Gray

This was bigger than Tane Mahuta.

Billed by their coach as one of the NPC have-nots, Northland grabbed some first division booty last night when they battered Canterbury into submission.

It was a huge turnaround from last week when Northland were belted by almost 30 points by franchise neighbours North Harbour, a result which left the bookies and most of the country in no doubt about a Canterbury victory.

But just as they did against Wellington for their first division one win since promotion last year, and threatened to do against Otago, the men of the north made their home patch in Whangarei their victory parade.

It was a triumph for the passion, guts and heart of the Cambridge blues, who lost three forwards to injury during the match while Canterbury seemed to run out of ideas against a relentless Northland defence.

"I was just asking Paul [Honiss] when the time was up," said captain Glenn Taylor. "It was a long three minutes and the feeling was just relief. We are stoked."

Disappointed Canterbury captain Todd Blackadder said his side's mistake rate cost them and they had played without the necessary hunger Northland displayed.

A turning point in the thriller came halfway through the second half. Northland had just racked up tries to prop Nick White and Norm Berryman from a turnover and clung to a two-point lead. They were awarded a penalty on the Canterbury 22 and instead of going for goal Taylor ordered a kick for touch.

It was an inspired choice and appropriately, from the lineout catch and rumbling drive, Taylor emerged from underneath the pileup for what was to be the winning try and a bonus point.

The final quarter found Canterbury with most of the possession but some of their ideas looked a little too frenetic and lateral to even grab the draw. So it proved, though there must have been some worries about conceding a penalty try as the Northland scrum creaked.

Predictions of a Canterbury romp looked on the money when fullback Ben Blair raced through a gap in the opening minute and looked sure to score until ankle-tapped by flanker Vula Maimuri.

Canterbury had their chances but Northland were too desperate to allow them any leeway.

For the rest of the opening quarter Northland held the advantage but without the luck or finesse to force their way onto the scoreboard. As they do, Canterbury soaked up pressure and then struck.

They broke out on a rare foray and from a scrum move close to the line, Steve Surridge and Angus Gardiner put fellow loosie Clark McLeod across the line.

Minutes later young halfback Ben Hurst scored when his forwards peeled from a lineout and the bust from prop Dave Hewitt gave his halfback an easy run.

They were both soft concessions by Northland but from those defensive lapses they hit back.

Speedster Dan Parkinson ran 60m from a Canterbury turnover to begin his side's scoring and with his second attempt at a dropped goal, Jarred Going had his team trailing just 10-12 at the break and the upset was on the boil.

Whangarei may still be in party mode today after the shock of the season.

Northland 27: (D. Parkinson, N. White, N. Berryman, G. Taylor, tries; H. Taylor 2 con, J. Going dropped goal). Canterbury 20: (C. McLeod, B. Hurst, J. Kerr, tries; B. Blair con, pen). Halftime: 10-12.