Yellow card seals Southland's fate

Corey Flynn breaks through the Southland defence. Simon Fergusson / Getty Images

Canterbury 24 Southland 7

This was one of those games in which the winners were in no doubt well before the end, but they couldn't ram home their advantage.

Southland have not lifted the Ranfurly Shield since 1959, and from the moment lock Hoani MacDonald was sinbinned in the 57th minute and his opposite, Craig Clarke sprawled over on an overlap a minute later to push the lead to 14 points, this was not going to be a momentous night for the southern men.

They battled awafy determinedly, but made too many mistakes and missed too many tackles.

All Black-less Canterbury weren't brilliant, but were comfortably good enough for the points.

The game began at a merry clip, both teams showing a desire to keep the ball in hand,.

But well before halftime, Canterbury had built up a significant possession and territory advantage which they maintained to the finish.

They had the measure of Southland at the scrum - slightly surprising, as Southland has a decent pair of props in Clarke Dermody and Jamie Macintosh - and had snaffled five of Southland's lineout throw-ins, to show set-piece wobbles are not confined to Waikato and the All Blacks.

Canterbury did have one early setback. In the first minute, centre Casey Laulala pulling up abruptly, turned and walked to the bench, minus one functioning hamstring.

Cameron McIntyre, doing the goalkicking instead of the metronomic Ben Blair, missed two kickable penalties before Blair shoved aside Southland fullback Kendrick Lynn's attempted tackle and cleverly grounded the ball over his shoulder at the right hand corner.

Southland levelled with a fine try 21 minutes in, after centre Jason Kawau brushed off McIntyre on a 50m run and after several surges close to the line, Hale T-Pole dived across by an upright.

For all that Southland seemed to be hanging on for much of the rest of the half, they were still in the hunt at the break.

They would have been closer had not first five-eighth Blair Stewart stupidly late-charged his opposite, Stephen Brett, giving up a soft three points four minutes before the break.

Southland began the second spell brightly and had their chances.

But the game was effectively decided with a wave of referee Lyndon Bray's yellow card.

As it happened, the Southlanders had made a few half breaks and got their set pieces working better. But they could not grasp the nettle and any chance of victory disappeared with MacDonald.

Of the hosts, Kieran Read was good value up front, Laulala's replacement Tim Bateman and Brett showed some classy touches, and Paul Williams completed his first full game since badly breaking a leg two years ago.

Canterbury 24: B. Blair, C. Clarke tries; C. McIntyre 4 pen, con
Southland 7: H. T-Pole try; B. Stewart con.
HT: 13-7