Tasman 14 Canterbury 21
KEY POINTS:
Sporting drama comes in all shapes and forms.
An underdog giving a silver-spoon opponent a stern test, even if the quality hardly matched the quantity of the entertainment, is always good value.
Such was the case in Blenheim, as Canterbury battled to stay near the head of the Air New Zealand Cup table with a victory over Tasman.
Tasman pushed their big brother Crusaders partner hard for most of the match, raising serious doubts about Canterbury's challenge for the national title and their ability to keep Auckland's Ranfurly Shield challenge at bay.
A number of close defeats this season had already put Tasman out of the top-eight playoff frame, but they put aside that disappointment to find some stirring if not stellar form before a buoyant home crowd. As if the local derby factor wasn't enough, the Tasman supporters had the chance to vent their feelings over the way Rico Gear quit the Makos. The Canterbury centre, overlooked for the World Cup squad, was treated to a healthy dose of boos throughout the game.
It added to the tense atmosphere and this match was better than anyone might have expected entertainment wise, better even than the lopsided fare from the World Cup in Europe.
It even contained a real fight, between the front rows in the 14th minute, which was almost as big a shock as the halftime scoreline of 14 - 3 to Tasman.
It was a lead that was thoroughly deserved, with the highly fancied Canterbury lacklustre in the first 20 minutes, and only marginally better in the next 20.
It was a case of Canterbury faltering in victory for a second successive week, having struggled against Taranaki, despite an improved second half performance in Blenheim.
They scored early in the spell through Gear and hit the lead for the first time in the 58th minute when a rolling maul presented Campbell Johnstone with a try.
Gear departed midway through the spell, accompanied by a rousing chorus of jeers. But the Blenheim crowd had little to really cheer about from then on.
Even a below-par Canterbury side know how to close a game down. But all is not well with Canterbury, and Auckland should be licking their lips.
Canterbury 21 Tasman 14
