Rugby: Taranaki move top with win

Tomasi Cama of Manawatu fends Kane Barrett of Taranaki during the round 11 ITM Cup match between Taranaki and Manawatu at Yarrow Stadium. Photo / Getty Images.

Taranaki 59
Manawatu 18

They've already held it for one summer and Taranaki are on the verge of keeping their mitts on the Ranfurly Shield for another one after they dispatched pesky rivals Manawatu today.

The 'Naki have one more Shield defence against Waikato on Wednesday before they can seal the lock on the trophy cabinet for another year (the Log o' Wood isn't contested during playoffs).

They've had to withstand some difficult challenges this season, like their 18-9 defeat in the wet against Canterbury a fortnight ago, and they've not been helped by a long injury list that grew after impressive flanker Scott Waldrom broke his arm last week but today's one was comfortable.

Manawatu, who have held the Ranfurly Shield only once in their history, tried to take the game to the home side and often threatened but simply made too many mistakes to build any pressure. If they weren't missing first-up tackles, they were spilling the ball, giving away needless penalties or flinging errant passes.

They were never really in the hunt as Taranaki built a 23-10 halftime lead and capitulated in the second spell as the home side grew in confidence.

A dry track helped the amber and blacks as well as the return of wing Andre Taylor from a broken finger.

Taylor has a touch of Christian Cullen about him. He's quick, evasive and confident and was a constant menace to a Manawatu side who probably felt a little aggrieved to be facing someone who played more than 50 games for the Turbos until his switch to enemy territory in 2010.

Taylor scored with one of his first touches and then brilliantly set up fullback Kurt Baker for two of his three tries. The first saw Taylor easily slip through the Manawatu defence inside his own half before offloading to Baker and the second came courtesy of a deft chip-kick which Baker got to first.

Together with Frazier Climo, who grabbed a brace of his own and continued his impressive form with the boot, they have arguably the best back three in the competition. They attacked at will and all eight of Taranaki's tries were scored by backs.

The win was Taranaki's seventh successful defence in the current run and, equally as important, propelled them to the top of the Premiership table. In this sort of form, they might even dream of winning some more silverware this season.

Taranaki 59 (Kurt Baker 3, Frazier Climo 2, Andre Taylor, Jackson Ormond, Willie Rickards tries; Climo 3 pens, 4 cons, Taylor con) Manawatu 18 (Craig Clare, Reece Robinson tries; Clare 2 pens, con). HT: 23-10