Top-seeded Canterbury needed extra-time to beat white-hot Counties Manukau 23-15 in Christchurch today, a result which booked a home semifinal against Hawke’s Bay.
The red and blacks barely had the energy to celebrate when referee Fraser Hannon blew the fulltime whistle at Apollo Projects Stadium, not after they made almost 250 tackles in warm, sapping conditions.
Canterbury captain Tom Christie says to be fair it was a hell of an effort from everyone.
Christie cut a relieved figure, and not just because his team escaped with victory over the No 8 seeds, albeit a team that had won five straight matches to reach the playoffs.
Destined to continue his career in England at the conclusion of the campaign, he knew he had at least another week in the red and black jersey, that the dream of leading them to their first title since 2017 remained alive.
As former All Blacks and Crusaders captain Kieran Read looked on, donning his Counties Manukau jersey, Christie made a couple of immense breakdown steals at crunch moments, too.
But it was Chay Fihaki who scored the decisive try half a dozen minutes into extra time, before slotting a 52 metre penalty to give Canterbury an eight-point buffer.
Slugging it out into a brute of a nor’wester during the first half of extra-time, Canterbury finally put their kicking boots away and held on to the ball, essentially monopolising possession and territory.
Compare that to the first half of regulation, when they were all too guilty of kicking the little ball they had away, including precious possession inside the opposition half.
Canterbury assistant coach Craig Dunlea summed it up best after Counties took a 15-5 lead into the sheds saying they just played some dumb footy, just gave the ball back to them.
The big question was always going to be: Was Counties Manukau’s 10-point lead at the split going to be enough for them to bag their first win against Canterbury in Christchurch in 27 years?
Canterbury needed just 11 minutes to erase the deficit, via a Fihaki penalty and Braydon Ennor try.
However, just when it looked like they might roll over the top of the visitors with the wind at their backs, Counties showed Canterbury how to play into it.
Gibson Popoali’i, Etene Nanai-Seturo and Peniasi Malimali were superb, creating numerous chances.
Had it not been for that man Christie, and an excellent one-on-one tackle and steal by Andrew Knewstubb, it might well have been a different story.
Canterbury pivot Knewstubb certainly had no chance of stopping him en route to his five pointer, when he burst down the short side to punish a poor Tyson Belworthy box kick.
It marked a quick response to Canterbury lock Jamie Hannah crashing over for the opening try of the match, a smash and bash effort shortly after loose forward Zach Gallagher picked off a pass inside the Counties 22.
And Counties quickly added to their lead through hooker Ioane Moananu, who did something almost unheard of against Canterbury’s powerful pack - scoring via a lineout drive.
Canterbury will face Hawke’s Bay in Christchurch on Saturday night, while Otago will host Bay of Plenty in the other semifinal on Friday night.
[Source: Stuff.co]
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
