Northland drought continues as Canterbury win in wet

Kevin Senio of Canterbury slides over to score a try. Phil Walter / Getty Image

Canterbury 25 Northland 11

The anticipated points deluge never eventuated but the Canterbury rugby juggernaut still had enough in the tank to extend Northland's win drought at ITM Stadium today.

Canterbury, fielding four All Blacks back from Tri-Nations duty, won a sodden Air New Zealand Cup pool B match 25-11, condemning the Taniwha to a 29th consecutive loss in the top flight.

Torrential rain ruined the match as a spectacle.

Consigned to a defensive role for the first quarter, Northland escaped comparatively lightly with Canterbury's only tangible reward a try to halfback Kevin Senio.

Northland then enjoyed their most profitable period of the match, temporarily taking the lead on the back of two Daniel Bowden penalties Cameron McIntyre's injury-time three-pointer restored Canterbury's lead.

Corey Flynn's decision to take the kick was a nod to Northland's torrid defence after an option to take a close range lineout moments before ended in a turnover.

Favoured by a breeze at their back in the second spell, Canterbury effectively closed the game out through tries in the left hand corner to mobile locks Isaac Ross and Kevin O'Neill.

Leading 18-6 into the final quarter, Canterbury's quest for a bonus point appeared thwarted until rookie centre Tim Bateman sliced through a gap 25-metres out before sliding over near the posts.

Staunch Canterbury defence denied Northland until injury time when fullback Marshall Milroy squeezed over in the corner to give the 2000-odd hardy souls that braved the elements some consolation.

The result left Northland coach Mark Anscombe again frustrated at the officiating his strugglers have encountered.

Northland were denied a try against Southland last week by a touch judge's error and Anscombe was unhappy with the build-up to Bateman's score, claiming referee Johnathon White ignored halfback John Senio being impeded at a ruck before the ball was turned over.

"It was a poor referee's call. He was soft on them around the fringes of the ruck and maul and that hurt us," he said.

"I don't think we were in a position to win the game but to have gone home with a bonus point out of Canterbury would have been encouraging for this team."

Canterbury coach Rob Penney was delighted to bank maximum points.

"To get five points, we're quite pleased. The conditions were tough and Northland defended outstandingly well."

Penney will be without second five-eighth Aaron Mauger against Waikato on Friday in Hamilton as he is to be rested.

Reuben Thorne, Greg Somerville and Scott Hamilton left the team quickly to fly back to Christchurch.

Canterbury 25 (Kevin Senio, Isaac Ross, Kevin O'Neill, Tim Bateman tries; Cameron McIntyre pen; Stephen Brett con)
Northland 11 (Marshall Milroy try; Daniel Bowden 2 pen)
HT: Canterbury 8-6.

- NZPA