Rugby: Waikato flows over brave Canterbury

By Chris Rattue

The mighty Mooloo have stamped themselves as the team to beat in this year's NPC championship.

Waikato continued their domination over Canterbury during the past two years when they scored a 20-6 victory at Jade Stadium last night in what was a heavyweight contest between two sluggers who both decided that this key battle should be decided in the forwards.

One moment of sublime anticipation proved to be the turning point. The athletic Waikato lock Chresten Davis, who started the match in place of All Black test man Royce Willis, snaffled an attempted penalty kick to the corner by Darryl Lilley which prevented Canterbury from setting a lineout play just metres from the Waikato line in the 71st minute.

Lilley did not aim his kick high enough into touch and Davis grabbed the ball and set off down field in a unique rugby play. There was a suggestion that Davis may have stepped into touch after grabbing the ball. But fortune favours the brave. Lilley, and every other line kicker will probably aim a little higher in future.

Canterbury, who trailed 6-13 at the time, never recovered their composure enough to launch another significant attack.

But it was ironic that one moment of extreme skill should stand out in a game which saw the forwards dominate so much.

Maybe without the great New Zealand backs such as Jeff Wilson, Christian Cullen and Andrew Mehrtens taking part this year, because of the World Cup campaign, the hard-fought forward battles will prove to be the key to the championship.

Despite being the favourites going into the NPC, neither Canterbury nor Waikato could launch any kind of creativity beyond second five-eighths.

But the question is: can any other side in the country match the relentless pressure these two can supply in the forwards?

It was the sort of battle that Waikato No 8 and captain Deon Muir is born to and he excelled in a match where the exchanges were always in close.

After Canterbury held a 6-3 advantage at halftime, it was Muir who smashed his way over from a ruck in the 50th minute for the game's first try.

Waikato finished the match off with a Rhys Duggan try after a clever chip kick from Bruce Reihana.

It was Waikato's fourth straight NPC victory over Canterbury, and a significant message from the Mooloo men. And even though there is plenty of ground still to cover, it is hard to imagine that these two teams will not meet again at semifinal or final time.

Waikato 20 (Deon Muir, Rhys Duggan tries, Matthew Cooper 2 pen, 2 con), Canterbury 6 (Ben Blair 2 pen). Halftime: 3-6.