Rugby: Canterbury down Makos

Canterbury 28
Tasman 13

In a game full of niggle and characteristic Crusaders cousins' intensity, Canterbury eventually subdued the Tasman Makos at a sunny, but windswept Landsdowne Park in Blenheim.

Tasman, perhaps motivated by the reunion of the famous 1973 Marlborough side that lowered Canterbury to clinch the Ranfurly Shield, ripped into their work, their tigerish loosies laying the platform for wing James Lowe to open the tryscoring.

Canterbury hit straight back, but were denied a possible try by the TMO. They did, however, cross when centre Adam Whitelock scored his first of two tries after some fine passing down the left flank.

The 8-8 stalemate at oranges did not, perhaps, do justice to the endeavours of the Makos.

But Canterbury seized the initiative back in the second spell, and new All Black, second-five Ryan Crotty, capitalised after No10 Tyler Bleyendaal had freed his arms off a scrum dart.

Canterbury just denied Tasman the ball, and the home side were not helped by the merry tune, against them, on referee Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri's whistle.

There was hope for Tasman when replacement halfback Kaide Whiting reached out to score but Adam Whitelock put the exclamation point, if not the bonus point, on the display when he bustled over thanks to another Bleyendaal break off a scrum.

Canterbury have little time to regroup, hosting Waikato on Thursday night, while Tasman travel to Pukekohe next Friday to face the Counties Manukau Steelers.

Canterbury 28 (A. Whitelock 2, R. Crotty tries; T. Bleyendaal 2 cons, 3 pens) Tasman 13 (J. Lowe, K. Whiting tries; A. Symons pen). Halftime: 8-8.