KEY POINTS:
Manawatu produced a stunning 25-24 win over Canterbury in a first round Air NZ Cup rugby match in Christchurch today.
It was the first time the province had beaten the South Island giants in a first class match since 1982 in the then NPC championship.
Manawatu's hero was winger Andre Taylor who scored two brilliantly taken individual tries in the second half.
First five-eighth Matty James also played a key role, contributing a try and kicking two penalties and two conversions.
Canterbury also scored three tries - two to centre Adam Whitelock and halfback Tyson Keats.
It was a victory fashioned through the traditional virtues of hard work by a pack in which Manawatu's tight five of props Grant Polson and Tala Halau, hooker Rob Foreman and locks Hayden Triggs and James Goode shone.
They worked the rucks and mauls with passion to slow Canterbury ball throughout the match.
Canterbury, shorn of a swag of experience, never looked likely to repeat last year's massive 64-10 win over Manawatu as they struggled to a 10-7 lead at halftime.
Manawatu scored first when James intercepted a pass by hooker Steve Fualau and raced 30 metres to dot down and convert in just the third minute.
Canterbury had the greater share of possession but when they did manage to free the ball to their backs, their passing was laboured allowing Manawatu to plug the gaps.
First five-eighth Hamish Gard missed an easy penalty before succeeding with his second attempt to cut the deficit and then Keats' lightning reactions to turn and chase a kick through foiled Taylor's chance of scoring a try minutes later.
Keats then capped off a lengthy period of Canterbury domination, dotting down from a quick tap penalty for Gard to convert.
Canterbury looked the more composed side after the break but it was Manawatu who again struck first, this time through Taylor.
Canterbury fullback Paul Williams had the ball knocked loose in a tackle and Taylor kept his head to toe the ball on twice and score to give Manawatu the lead again.
Again, Manawatu fell behind. Canterbury second five-eighth Tim Bateman created both tries for midfield partner Whitelock.
First, he toed the ball through a flat Manawatu defence for Whitelock to race onto and score.
Bateman then produced a well-timed draw and pass which put Whitelock through a yawning gap for his second try.
Manawatu, showing their growing maturity, never gave up. They cut the deficit with two James penalties.
With eight minutes to go, a defensive error by Canterbury gave them their chance.
From a ruck after a five-metre lineout, Taylor beat the defence to score by the right upright. James' conversion made it 25-24.
Canterbury had a chance to regain the lead on the hooter but substitute kicker Colin Slade's 35-metre penalty from a difficult angle missed.
- NZPA
