Shield heads north after Auckland ambush Canterbury

5.00pm

AUCKLAND 40 CANTERBURY 31


Canterbury's Ranfurly Shield reign ended today when Auckland won a pulsating NPC first division rugby match 40-31 in Christchurch.

Even precision goalkicking from Canterbury first five-eighth Andrew Mehrtens couldn't deny Auckland, who scored six tries to one at Jade Stadium to confirm an NPC semifinals berth.

Mehrtens contributed 26 points in an outstanding individual performance but Auckland were the superior team in cold and wet conditions.

They raced out to a 21-7 lead after just 20 minutes and pocketed a bonus-point fourth try two minutes later when their advantage stood at 28-10.

Thereafter Mehrtens -- at the end of a disappointing season in which he was unwanted by the All Blacks selectors and plagued by injury -- kept Canterbury in touch by regularly banging over penalties.

Down 16-28 at halftime, Mehrtens kept raising the flags, his six penalties and two dropped goals hauling Canterbury to just 31-33 behind with nine minutes remaining.

At that stage the match hung in the balance as Canterbury fought desperately to extend a shield reign that had lasted 24 matches.

They were undone in the 76th minute, though, by a scintillating burst from Auckland centre Ben Atiga, who skipped through the Canterbury defence for a try which he converted to make the game safe for the 2002 NPC champions.

Auckland had started the match in entertaining fashion when they rocked Canterbury with their determination to attack from anywhere.

They were 14-0 ahead after just seven minutes following converted tries to wing Brent Ward and skipper and No 8 Xavier Rush.

Canterbury responded through fullback Scott Hamilton, who featured twice in a move which ended with him over the tryline.

Auckland kicked clear again courtesy of the first of two tries by fullback Orene Ai'i but Canterbury dragged themselves back into the match thanks to Mehrtens' accurate goalkicking.

Auckland 40 (Orene Ai'i 2, Brent Ward, Ben Atiga, Xavier Rush, Sam Tuitupou tries; Atiga 5 con)

Canterbury 31 (Scott Hamilton try; Andrew Mehrtens 6 pen, 2 dropped goals, con)

Halftime: 28-16

- NZPA

NPC points table