Yahoo!Xtra Sport / Neil Reid – October 25, 2008, 9:20 pm
Canterbury have been crowned Air New Zealand Cup champions, beating Wellington 7-6 in the final.
The Rob Penney-coached team proved too clinical in testing conditions at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium as several All Black contenders made a late push for season-ending tour selection.
Canterbury were triumphant after withstanding a strong and determined wave of pressure from Wellington throughout the second half.
They were guilty of numerous handling errors, but their defence ultimately held out, as it has done for most of the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup.
They were also hammered in the penalty count, with Bryce Lawrence becoming the first ref to finally crack down on Canterbury’s ongoing, but normally ignored, offences at the breakdown.
Wellington coach Jamie Joseph had made a late change to his starting 15, moving Ma’a Nonu in from the wing to second-five, with Tamati Ellison moving into the No 14 jersey.
The Lions had the best share of possession early on, in the process trying to get the ball wide.
However a failure to spread the ball fast, combined with the Wellington defence, saw them lose momentum.
They also weren’t helped when Piri Weepu twice kicked the ball dead-in goal, allowing Canterbury scrum ball in handy possessions.
Canterbury certainly weren’t flashy, but they were effective. They were also helped by a solid platform provided at scrum-time.
Wellington continued to struggle up against the Canterbury defence as the 15-minute mark neared. Too often their attacks were subsequently forced across the field, rather than up it.
Weepu finally opened the scores in the final with a penalty in the 17th minute.
The transplanted first-five also started to come into his own with some smart tactical kicking after his earlier errors.
But it was Canterbury who scored next, with Hayden Hopgood crossing after a strong burst from Tim Bateman. Colin Slade converted.
The weather set in over Westpac Stadium as the final 10 minutes of the first half neared, with the wet and slippery conditions calling for both sides to play a percentage game.
Slade had the chance to extend the lead in the 32nd minute, but missed a handy penalty attempt.
The teams headed for the sheds at halftime with Canterbury up 7-3.
The wet welcomed both sides back onto the field after the break, with some strong Wellington defence jolting the ball free.
Wellington had the first meaningful attack of the second half, with Cory Jane setting Ellison away.
Canterbury were penalised from the resulting breakdown, with Weepu landing the penalty to close the gap to 7-6.
Wellington’s intensity lifted sizably as the Air New Zealand Cup entered its final 30 minutes, hammering into everything.
And it started to have its effect on the Cantabs, with even Richie McCaw joining in on the fumbles which struck the side.
Weepu had the chance to claim the lead for Wellington on the 60-minute mark, but his penalty attempt at goal drifted wide.
Shortly afterwards Alby Mathewson broke free but his pass to support went straight into touch, with the Canterbury defence stretched and the try-line beckoning.
Canterbury eventually cleared the pressure, meaning Wellington had no reward for their lengthy time on attack.
Wellington again went on the attack with game entering its final five minutes.
But the best defence in the Air New Zealand Cup continued to hold them out.
CANTERBURY 7 (H Hopgood try; C Slade try), WELLINGTON 6 (P Weepu 2 pen). HT: 7-3.
