Canterbury take Shield and NPC points

4.30pm

Canterbury took both the NPC points and New Zealand rugby's challenge Ranfurly Shield off Bay of Plenty in a cliffhanger at Mt Maunganui today.

A dramatic end saw the challengers score a penalty try and then hold on for a 33-26 victory in the last piece of action in the match.

Fortunately for Canterbury, fullback Ben Blair had a slight head start over BOP second five-eighth Grant McQuoid start in the chase for the ball bouncing over the visiting team's line.

Both dived for the ball with Blair just getting there first.

"I was worried scared," Blair admitted later.

Canterbury were well on top in this action-packed match for the "log" when halfback Justin Marshall scored their second try in the 55th minute to give them a 26-13 lead.

But BOP kept chipping away at the margin and Glen Jackson kicked three successive penalties to make it 26-26 by the 65th minute.

As the battle continued with powerful bursts and strong tackles, Canterbury strung together a number of phases in the BOP 22 and attacked the line from a quick ruck.

BOP's hero until then, captain Wayne Ormond, bowled over a Canterbury player from an offside position close to the line and referee Paul Honiss didn't hesitate to award them a penalty try.

He told Ormond he was lucky not to be sinbinned.

Ormond later blamed himself for the loss although his teammates would have none of it after the loose forward's tremendous all-round effort.

Andrew Mehrtens, who had kicked four penalties, missed two others and landed two conversions, succeeded with the penalty try to give Canterbury a seven-point cushion.

A draw would have seen BOP retain the shield.

Mehrtens and Jackson traded a penalty goal each early in the game before winger Anthony Tahana scored in the 18th minute to the joy of the BOP supporters.

Rua Tipoki intercepted a pass when Canterbury were dangerously close to the line and raced to the other end of the field. He was reeled in by Canterbury winger Marika Vunibaka but not before getting the ball to Tahana.

Mehrtens kicked his second penalty before Caleb Ralph's converted try and a third Mehrtens' penalty gave Canterbury a 16-10 halftime lead.

Mehrtens and Jackson slotted a penalty goal each early in the second half before Marshall's try appeared to put Canterbury on the way to victory.

However, three more Jackson penalties made for a dramatic end.

Canterbury 33 (Caleb Ralph, Justin Marshall tries; penalty try; Andrew Mehrtens 4 pen, 3 con)

Bay of Plenty 26 (Anthony Tahana, Glen Jackson tries; Jackson 4 pen).

Halftime: 16-10.

- NZPA

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