Canterbury successfully defended the Ranfurly Shield at Jade Stadium today against Auckland.
In a game riddled with errors on both sides, Canterbury were always in control, eventually winning 38-10.
Canterbury led at halftime, 9-3.
The red and blacks also gained an important bonus point from the match, guaranteeing that they will finish top of the NPC Division One when the competition winds up next weekend.
For Auckland, a top-four position now looks decidedly shaky. Their main competition for that semifinal spot comes from Otago, who are in action tomorrow (Sunday).
Shield challenges between these two major provincial powerhouses have often produced classic matches, but that wasn't the case today, as both teams looked to be off the boil for much of the 80 minutes.
Canterbury's final defence of the Ranfurly Shield for 2001 is next week's game against Waikato.
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