Rugby: Errors costly for the Taniwha

The Northland supporters streaming for the Toll Stadium exits 10 minutes from time said it all.

They turned out in good numbers to see the Taniwha rough up the best provincial outfit in the country on Friday night but their team was outclassed, before finally fading to a 56-11 defeat.

The last time the Cantabs were in Whangarei, a historic win was only denied the Taniwha in the final minute when Dean Budd lost control of the ball in the act of scoring.

The crowd were looking for a rematch of that thrilling encounter but were ultimately disappointed.

Northland's woes of the season to date - their inability to hold on to the ball and build pressure - continued for most of the first spell but their defence, and Canterbury's inability to find top gear, kept them in the game.

Canterbury led 22-6 at the break but then the Taniwha started well with Rene Ranger scoring a typical bustling try off the back of a strong run by Samisoni Fisilau.

They might have come back into the game then but fell back into their all-too-familiar pattern of errors.

Mateo Malupo dropped a pass after Faatoina Autagavaia had penetrated the Canterbury defence, the normally precise Ash Moeke missed a penalty right in front, and then they spent more than 10 minutes camped in the Canterbury red zone - all to no effect - other than to wind up the biggest crowd of the season.

Ross Wright got the ball over the line and in the only thing that closely resembled the 2010 Taniwha effort - it was lost in the act of scoring.

The Canterbury machine then clicked back into gear and once they cleared their line, they scored their bonus point try through Wyatt Crockett, and all the Taniwha effort faded away as the visitors piled on the points in the final 10 minutes.

Coach Adriaan Ferris said the team showed what they were capable of in the second spell.

"I was proud of the way they came out after the second half against a team of essentially Super Rugby players - we matched them for two-thirds of that game and now we've got to dust ourselves off and prepare for the final all-or-nothing game next week," he said.

Northland still sit in fourth place in the championship, despite losing four straight games, and must beat competition leaders Counties Manukau if they are to progress through to the semifinals. Southland and Manawatu are just a point behind the Taniwha and play each other in Palmerston North on Friday.

Ironically, the Taniwha will need all the support they can muster for the match at Toll Stadium.

They will be hoping their fans don't dwell too long on their performance against the Cantabrians, who to be fair, have won the past four NPC titles and came to Whangarei on the back of an 84-0 thumping of Southland.

"It's a season that's had its up and downs to be fair and what we want to do is give it everything against Counties and pay back all the loyal support that we've had here tonight and over the season," Ferris said.