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Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Former Auckland schoolboy Chay Fihaki scored Canterbury’s only try in the first half against Auckland.
Canterbury has made the great escape to avoid relegation to the Premiership from the Miter Cup 10.
In dramatic fashion, Canterbury rallied from a 19-4 trailing edge against Auckland table leaders to win 34-33 and relegate North Harbor to second tier in New Zealand provincial rugby.
Only a reconfiguration of the provincial rugby landscape can save North Harbor from having to play in the Championship next season.
There have been reports that NZ Rugby is looking to redraw the landscape next season, with the North and South divisions, to cut costs and, if that happens, Harbor will save face. But that’s no longer something Canterbury has to worry about.
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The provincial rivalry in rugby may not be what it once was, but there was still nothing Auckland would have enjoyed more than trying to relegate Canterbury.
Harbor’s momentous 37-33 loss to Bay of Plenty earlier in the day, after being up 21-0, kept Canterbury’s hopes of survival in the Premiership tantalizingly alive, but they still needed a win over their old foes.
It was disappointing that there was such a small crowd for a game of this importance, but those who did show up would have been smiling at how it all went their team’s way on the final day of the regular season.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Auckland center Tumua Manu made one of his team’s attempts against Canterbury.
It took Auckland just two minutes to make their mark on this game as they attacked down the left, with Zarn Sullivan throwing a big ball at Salesi Rayasi, before the try was finished off by Terell Peita.
Three minutes later and Auckland was back, center Tumua Manu cut through a kick that, in five seconds, Taniela Tele’a won the race on foot to the ground.
In the 15th minute, Chay Fihaki scored Canterbury’s first try, but they came close to ruining it as the ball moved from right to left against a struggling Auckland defense.
Rayasi, who has clearly been one of the best players in the Miter 10 Cup this season, slipped into the blind side after receiving the ball from Jonathan Ruru, for Auckland’s third attempt.
With a 19-5 lead, Auckland was walking towards victory. Harry Plummer was controlling the game perfectly and used his wonderful baseline well behind him.
With three minutes remaining until half-time, Presley Tufuga was trashed for shooting a penalty in a ruck near the Auckland line.
It was the first in a series of penalties Auckland awarded when Canterbury pressed hard before the break. However, Canterbury was left with nothing as they ruined a scrum and Auckland received a free kick.
While Canterbury blew their chance late in the first half, they made the most of their extra man early in the second, with a good linking game resulting in a Dallas McLeod attempt.
Three minutes later, Canterbury was level. Brodie McAlister and McLeod made great volleys, with Ngatungane Punivai finishing. Cameron’s conversion made them the score 19-19.
The momentum stopped Canterbury’s path and in the 57th minute they delivered a ball retention masterclass, which led to a try by Luke Romano.
Canterbury was more up front with 15 minutes to go when Oli Jager crawled under the posts.
Auckland needed a wake-up call and they got it thanks to a Tufuga attempt three minutes later and Plummer’s conversion turned it into a 5-point game.
Moments later, Rayasi seized a fumble and ran 25 meters to try, and Plummer put Auckland up 33-31.
But there was one more twist to this game, with 19-year-old Fihaki throwing a monstrous penalty to make it 34-33.
At the last minute, Simon Hickey hit the ball, ending any chance of Auckland coming back again, so Canterbury was able to get a win to save their faces.
TAKE A LOOK
Canterbury 34 (Chay Fihaki, Dallas McLeod, Ngatungane Punivai, Luke Romano, Oli Jager tries; Brett Cameron 4 cons). Auckland 33 (Terrell Peita, Taniela Tele’a, 2 Salesi Rayasi, Presley Tufuga tries; Harry Plummer 4 cons). HT: 5-19
