Shield challenge over by halftime

By WYNNE GRAY

Canterbury 38 Taranaki 17

There was no fairytale for Taranaki last night, no stealthy raid to knock over the unsuspecting champions and pinch the Ranfurly Shield.

Canterbury were too good, maintaining a record of not losing to the amber and blacks since 1978, and showing what a lethal side they can be when they are given too much space.

After their mind-altering comeback to save the shield last week against Wellington, Canterbury got into their work early last night and, helped by some poor individual tackling, had this defence sorted by halftime when they led 31-3.

With that significant advantage, Canterbury coach Steve Hansen chose to use most of his substitutes, but that unhinged his team's pattern and brought Taranaki back into the game.

They won the second half, outscoring Canterbury two tries to one, and could have had a third to Daryl Lilley on television replay evidence.

But Taranaki did not have the vicious firepower to bridge the gap and create an upset.

Backline reshuffles forced by injury meant Nathan Mauger shifted in a place for Canterbury to second five-eighths. The move was especially profitable, with Mauger bagging four tries in the opening 40 minutes.

All four came from backing up Canterbury hammer blows.

Taranaki started with the expected fury, but that was doused after three minutes when Canterbury got their hands on the ball and whistled up the other end of the park through incisions from Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens.

From the breakdown, the ball was swept into space and Mauger had a clear run to the line.

Same again from a tap penalty soon after and, with Ben Blair kicking both conversions and swapping a penalty with Daryl Lilley, the holders led 17-3 after the first quarter.

Two clean long-range breaks from Caleb Ralph delivered Mauger's next touchdowns as he trailed his centre like a faithful drover's dog.

The third quarter was more settled until sometime-Canterbury wing Joe Maddock used a little bit of room to beat a covering Mepi Faoagali near the touchline to score.

The respectability Taranaki craved came when a lineout move and rumble promoted Brent Thompson over the line. Like the television ads, there was more.

A Mark Urwin incision gave speedy wing Chris Woods just enough room to gas away to the line before Lilley was denied at the corner flag and the fire went out of the challenge from Taranaki.

Canterbury 38 (N. Mauger 4, J. Maddock tries; B. Blair 5 con, pen) Taranaki 17 ( B. Thompson, C. Woods tries; D. Lilley 2 con, pen). Halftime: 31-3