Canterbury extend Wellington woes

NZPA ©

As Canterbury celebrated their first back-to-back successes in the national provincial competition in Christchurch on Saturday night, beaten Air New Zealand Cup rugby finalists Wellington were left cursing the hoodoo hovering over them at finals time.

Canterbury, leading 25-10 on the hour but only five points ahead with six minutes to play and with fullback Colin Slade in the sinbin, converted a late penalty to win, 28-20, at Christchurch.

The victory was their seventh since the NPC started in 1976, their first at home for eight years but their fourth success since 2001.

For Wellington, the loss just extended an already woeful record in the showpiece contest. They have reached six of the last seven finals and lost them all, Canterbury being the main party-pooper, winning on three occasions, the first two in Wellington.

After losing the Ranfurly Shield to Southland in the last challenge and eight All Blacks to the All Blacks overseas tour, Canterbury were considered vulnerable in their Cup title defence.

Hawke's Bay came to Christchurch quietly confident for the semifinal but had their wings clipped, 20-3, and the Wellington Lions were similarly tamed, although they roared at times and left with pride.

Wellington, as both coach Jamie Joseph and captain Jacob Ellison conceded later, lost the final in the first half.

Wellington opted to kick for territory, but Canterbury, with Slade superb under the high ball, returned with interest and the fullback's counter-attacking ability led to him scoring two first-half tries, the first after two minutes from a 60m sideline sprint, the second in the 33rd minute after centre Casey Laulala put him through a gap with a perfectly-timed pass.

The defending champions led 18-3 at the break and 25-10 after 61 minutes when wing Sean Maitland scored a sensational solo try, beating three defenders on a 40m scything run to the line.

Wellington played their best rugby in the last quarter, a penalty goal and a converted try in the 74th minute closing the gap to just five points.

But a Wellington infringement in the 77th minute gave Stephen Brett the chance to seal the match with a 32m penalty goal and he made no mistake.

"We had a man not rolling away -- it was a tough call as they were slowing down the ball and we had to try and do something to the ball back on our side," Ellison said of the crucial penalty decision.

"We got a few of those penalties in our favour and that's the way it happens -- there's a few things that could have gone either way."

Joseph was disappointed his team stayed with the kick-and chase tactic throughout the first half even when it kept proving ineffective.

"In the first 40 minutes we weren't able to play a lot and that's credit to Canterbury for the way they approached and played the game. I think we lost to a better team tonight."

Canterbury coach Rob Penney, who is keen to stay on and try for a hat-trick of titles next year, paid tribute to his players.

"I can't speak highly enough about how the team have pulled together and generated energy and had faith in each other to do a job which was really difficult for them.

"The guys supported each other wonderfully. It is still a team orientated game and you can't do it individually.

"The red-and-black theme is really about doing it for the team and the boys have bought into that time and time again and it's won the day again."