Blair knocks up 33 in Canterbury romp

NPC first division champions Canterbury scored a predictably one-sided win in their Ranfurly Shield defence against Mid Canterbury in Ashburton yesterday.

Canterbury scored 12 tries in a 78-10 result that would have surprised no one.

They took some time to crack Mid Canterbury's defensive screen, but once the barrier was broken the traffic was largely heading in one direction.

Experienced All Blacks prop Greg Feek decided enough was enough in the 17th minute.

With the backline still looking for fluidity, a lineout win near the back by hardworking flanker Trevor Brown was turned back inside and Feek bulldozed through two tackles to open the scoring with a try.

That try seemed to lift the burden off Canterbury's shoulders and they then assumed total control of the match.

It may have taken a try by a forward to get the scoreboard rolling, but Canterbury's next 11 tries all went to the backs, with fullback Ben Blair scoring a hat-trick in the last nine minutes as Mid Canterbury suffered against the strength and speed of their bigger, professional rivals.

Blair, whose electrifying runs delighted the spectators in the last quarter of the encounter, ended the match with a personal haul of 33 points.

- NZPA