Rugby: SBW steps up in Canterbury win

Canterbury centre Sonny Bill WIlliams. Photo / Getty Images

High-profile rugby signing Sonny Bill Williams stepped up his game with style as Canterbury overcame a gallant Northland 27-23 in a frenetic ITM Cup match at Whangarei today.

Ahead 21-16 at halftime, the competition leaders were forced to work right down to the final minute by Northland, still on a high after downing previously unbeaten Southland 33-22 last week.

It took a dropped goal to first five-eighth Stephen Brett in the 78th minute to finally put the game out of Northland's reach.

The performance of Williams, especially in the first half, was impressive.

After coming off the bench last week against Bay of Plenty, he started at centre today and featured in all three Canterbury tries.

The first came after just four minutes as quick lineout ball moved to Williams who ran strongly, offloading in the tackle for centre Robbie Fruean to hit the line at pace and touch down.

Canterbury's second try came as the half-hour mark neared, a well-taken long range effort which saw Williams again attack the Northland line with venom.

He showed impressive awareness and timing to flick back a pass in the tackle which was snapped up by lock Luke Romano for the try.

Five minutes later, Canterbury crossed again as Williams hit the ball at pace, finding lock Isaac Ross on his inside to give Canterbury a 21-6 lead.

With less than five minutes to go, Northland narrowed the lead through prop Bronson Murray, who added to Lachie Munro's two earlier penalties as the Northland pack bulldozed him over from the lineout.

Munro added the extras, and another penalty right on halftime, to rein Canterbury back to a 21-16 lead at the break.

The second half was all Northland, a pivotal try coming in the 65th minute after Canterbury captain George Whitelock was yellow-carded for playing the ball on the ground.

From the resulting lineout five metres out, Northland No 8 Cameron Eyre snaffled the long throw to dive across virtually unchallenged. Munro made the conversion, leaving Northland trailing 23-24 until Brett's dropped goal with barely a minute remaining.

Canterbury 27 (Robbie Fruean, Luke Romano, Isaac Ross tries; Stephen Brett 3 con, dropped goal; Andy Ellis dropped goal) Northland 23 (Bronson Murray, Cameron Eyre tries; Lachie Munro 3 pen, 2 con). Halftime: 21-16

- NZPA