KEY POINTS:
AIR NZ CUP
Canterbury 31 Hawke's Bay 7
Hawke's Bay's voyage of discovery up the Air New Zealand Cup table ended abruptly after they came face to face with the grim reality of an efficient Canterbury last night.
Canterbury first five-eighths Steven Brett controlled the match while All Black halfback Andy Ellis rediscovered his form for two tries.
Canterbury defused Hawke's Bay's threat even after they had notched the first points with a try to winger Zac Guildford.
He outstripped stolid Canterbury cover after a good kick from Sam Giddens, who converted.
But that was all the sugar the Bay experienced as Canterbury hitched up their trousers and began building the kind of momentum expected of them.
No 8 Mose Tuiali'i was making some crashing runs, Ellis was sniping and darting in a way that suggests his All Black test place is not yet forsaken and Brett was displaying touches that make him so much better a first five than a second five.
Ellis nipped over after good work through the middle by effective second-five Tim Bateman and a weaving, dangerous run by Brett.
Ellis then strolled across the goalline after a quick tap penalty with Hawke's Bay defenders pushing the 'snooze' button and Bateman completed matters in the first half by scoring under the bar from a Brett kick with the Bay in full retreat.
Brett finished off the half with a highly impressive drop goal even though the touch judge missed an infringement that should have given possession to the Bay - but then it was that sort of day.
The Bay are still well placed re the playoffs but winning in Christchurch would have got them to second place in the table and with all sorts of benefits applying in the finals.
The much vaunted Hawke's Bay pack was very much second fiddle last night, with Isaac Ross and Michael Paterson doing well in the lineouts, the Canterbury scrum proving dominant and Tuiali'i and Kieran Read controlled the loose.
Rain in the second half dampened matters a bit, as did the exit of Brett with an injury after a few minutes of the second half.
The slippery ball, errors and all the kicking saw matters descend into tedium. Canterbury brought their young benchwarmers on but the Bay never regained the poise and dash which has made them such difficult customers this season.
The match ended with only one further addition to the halftime score.
The only excitement of the second half came when Bateman swooped on a Bay mistake, fullback Scott Hamilton chimed in and replacement flanker George Whitelock had a 40m run to the line, pushing off Bay fullback Israel Dagg in the process.
Some knowledgeable folk say Whitelock is in with a bolter's chance of a spot on the All Black end of year tour. He is big, fast and a No 7 - and there's not too many of those around to back up the inestimable Richie McCaw these days.
That try came after the hooter and the preceding 40 minutes was dry stuff (in spite of the rain). Canterbury simply kicked for territory and smothered Bay's attempts to break out.
But Canterbury did enough in the first half to suggest that they are building form for the playoffs and in a typically, efficient, effective style.
Canterbury 31 (A. Ellis 2, T. Bateman, G. Whitelock tries, S. Brett 3 con, drop goal; C. Slade con), Hawke's Bay 7 (Z. Guildford try; S. Giddens con) HT: 24-7.
