Northland skipper stands by maul call

Canterbury 26 Northland 18

Northland skipper Glenn Taylor had no regrets about passing up the chance of a potential bonus point in their game against Canterbury in Whangarei.

Northland trailed Canterbury 18-26 with less than 20 minutes to go when they earned a penalty inside the red-and-blacks' 22. But Taylor chose not to take a kick at goal. He elected to kick for touch instead and launch another rolling maul - a profitable tactic for the home team for most of the game.

Canterbury's defence held firm, with Todd Blackadder, Matt Mustchin and Chris Jack teaming to bundle the ball-carrier into touch - and Northland did not come close to scoring again.

But Taylor was unrepentant.

"I felt at that stage that we still had a quarter of an hour to go ... so I'll take that one on the chin."

Taylor appealed to the referee after the penalty, claiming Northland's maul was being collapsed.

The veteran lock led by example, with a towering game in the lineouts and mauls after being in doubt on the eve of the game after rolling an ankle at training.

Northland coach Bryce Woodward felt his charges "had enough chances to win".

"We weren't totally dominant, but we certainly won the possession stakes and put a lot of pressure on them."

Woodward thought Northland "deserved a point at least," but he backed Taylor's decision not to take a shot at goal.

- NZPA