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At Rangiora Showground Oval: Canterbury 29 (Alex Harford, Ngantungane Punivai, Billy Harmon, Rameka Poihipi tries; Harford 3 con, pen) Taranaki 28 (Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Ricky Riccitelli, Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Stephen Perofeta tries; Jayson Potroz con, 2 pen). HT: 17-11
Yellow cards: Chay Fihaki (Canterbury), Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (Taranaki), Reed Prinsep (Canterbury)
Canterbury bounced back after last week’s loss to Wellington, but they had to rely on some good fortune to get the win.
With about six minutes remaining, Taranaki looked set to take the lead after a Stephen Perofeta try but No 10 Jayson Potroz missed a routine conversion attempt.
Canterbury, who lost two men to the sin bin the final quarter, held on in front of an excellent crowd in Rangiora, where the locals turned out in force.
Potroz will be kicking himself after Taranaki replacement winger Vereniki Tikoisolomone sparked a fightback from the visitors.
Discarded All Black Joe Moody was involved in a rugged scrum battle with Taranaki tighthead Reuben O’Neill, and certainly didn’t have it all his own way during his 55 minutes on the paddock.
Moody, who argued his case with All Blacks coach Ian Foster after being left out of the Rugby World Cup squad, coughed up one important scrum penalty from an attacking 5m scrum, and Taranaki scored the first try of the game soon afterwards.
John Davidson/Photosport
One-test All Black Dallas McLeod eludes Taranaki’s Tom Florence at Rangiora Showground Oval on Saturday.
An intercept try to Ngantungane Punivai before halftime, however, changed the complexion of the game.
Punivai perfectly read a Taranaki backline move that was designed to feed to the dangerous Kini Naholo, and ran 70 metres for a crucial try.
Canterbury then raced out to a 29-11 lead, but they were almost reeled in until Potroz’s late miss.
At Rotorua International Stadium: Bay of Plenty 38 (Richard Judd, Manaaki Selby-Rickit (2), Cole Forbes, Lucas Cashmore tries; Cashmore 5 con, pen) Otago 14 (Jermaine Ainsley, Saula Ma’u tries A; Finn Hurley 2 con). HT: 28-7
Yellow card: Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Bay of Plenty)
Bay of Plenty scored three tries in the first 20 minutes against an error-riddled Otago side to set the foundation for a comprehensive win.
Former Highlanders lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit helped himself to two tries in the first half, as Otago fell off far too many tackles in a poor display.
To make matters worse for the visitors, power midfielder Thomas Umaga-Jensen hobbled off after half an hour after twisting his leg in a tackle.
The Steamers, by contrast, were physical in everything they did, while their lineout was also far more accurate.
No 7 Veveni Lasaqa was outstanding with and without the ball, and his efforts were mirrored by midfielder Lalomilo Lalomilo, whose powerful runs and tackles were a feature of the game.
The win puts Bay of Plenty back inside the top eight, with three victories for the season so far.
Otago, meanwhile, are languishing towards the bottom of the ladder, with only a win against Southland to their name so far.
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