KEY POINTS:
Canterbury oozed class in beating Counties-Manukau 52-13 in an Air NZ Cup rugby match today.
Spared the atrociously wet conditions which marred matches yesterday, the game at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland was over as a contest as early as the 28th minute when Canterbury scored their bonus point fourth try to lead 26-6.
Canterbury were clinically efficient in all they did to score eight tries to one, with young first five-eighth Stephen Brett adding the extras with six conversions.
The highlights were few and far between for Counties-Manukau, who conceded four tries in quick succession after Canterbury loose forward Johnny Leo'o opened the visitors' account in just the fourth minute.
The home side's defensive frailties were exposed as hooker Corey Flynn charged clear from a lineout drive before feeding halfback Andrew Ellis, who found Leo'o in support.
Ten minutes later winger Steve Yates ran through a huge hole in midfield to chalk up the second try before second five-eighth Ben Nowell accounted for the third just 4min later when he accepted a great offload from centre Casey Laulala after Canterbury spread the ball wide to the left.
Canterbury completed their first-half scoring when Brett added his fourth conversion to a try from Paul Williams when the winger showed commendable strength to hold off a tackler on the touchline.
Normal service was resumed 4min into the second spell when No 8 Mose Tuiali'i shrugged off some shoddy defence from a scrum near the line but Counties-Manukau had some brief respite when prop Simon Lemalu converted a ruck turnover into five points in the 48th minute.
Leo'o was then driven over for his second try, before Canterbury delivered their best try, a patient buildup leading to an incisive midfield thrust from Laulala to gift blindside flanker Kieran Read an unimpeded run to the line.
The last quarter saw uncontested scrums employed after Canterbury lost the services of substitute prop Owen Franks due to an arm injury.
Counties-Manukau refused to surrender but they squandered an opportunity when replacement front rower Ilaisa Maasi spilled the ball with the line open, and lock Kristian Ormsby was then held up over the line.
Canterbury had the last say, raising their half-century shortly after the final hooter when replacement back Nasi Manu gathered in a delicate chip ahead from Brett.
NZPA
