Rugby: Taranaki can't stall Cantabs

Taranaki were more than willing but ultimately incapable of stalling the progress of national provincial rugby leaders Canterbury last night.

Although Canterbury were below their best they still emerged with a 20-13 win after overcoming a slow start in New Plymouth. The result lifted them to 38 points from a maximum of 40 after eight matches, and it is now up to Auckland to extract five competition points against Tasman tomorrow to edge one point ahead of the southerners.

Taranaki defended stoutly for long periods in the first spell and had enough possession to seriously concern Canterbury in the second only to come up short on attack as fullback Scott Ireland's errant goalkicking denied them points.