Waikato 3-12 Canterbury, ITM Cup Final, Hamilton, September 3
Canterbury clinch ITM Cup crown
ESPNscrum Staff
September 3, 2011
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Date/Time: Sep 3, 2011, 19:35 local, 07:35 GMT
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Waikato 3 - 12 Canterbury
Waikato's Stephen Donald stretches the Canterbury defence, Waikato v Canterbury, ITM Cup Final, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand, September 3, 2011
Waikato's Stephen Donald stretches the Canterbury defence
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Canterbury clinched a fourth successive provincial title with a 12-3 victory over Waikato in their ITM Cup Final showdown in Hamilton.

Four penalties from replacement fly-half Tom Taylor gave the Cantabs a deserved victory in the first try-less season finale the competition has seen. Waikato playmaker Stephen Donald had given the hosts an early lead with a penalty of his own but they were unable to breakdown a superb Canterbury defence and deny the Christchurch-based side a morale-boosting end to a troubled season.

An early scrum infringement handed Canterbury a great attacking position in the opening stages of the game but Waikato, looking to repeat their comprehensive 27-13 victory over the Cantabs during the regular season, held firm before launching their own raid with prop Toby Smith leading the charge. Donald, in his last appearance for the Mooloo Men before joining Premiership side Bath, loomed up in support only to spill the ball under pressure as he closed in on the line but he was able to open the scores from the kicking tee a few moments later after being the victim of a high tackle from Canterbury's Wyatt Crockett.

Back came Canterbury with some good hands putting No.8 Nasi Manu into space out wide before the ball was worked back inside with fullback Sean Maitland and captain George Whitelock driving into the the 22. Waikato drifted offside in a bid to halt their rivals' momentum but Canterbury fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal pushed his kick wide of the posts.

The Canterbury pack were soon on the front foot again with Donald's boot only offering a temporary reprieve. A leg injury to Bleyendaal saw the introduction of Taylor midway through the half and he made an immediate impact by snuffing out a promising Waikato move with some good work at the breakdown. His next contribution was with the boot as he brought his side level with a penalty after Waikato had been penalised at one of many shaky lineouts.

The home side were also under pressure at scrum time with a penalty against tight-head Nathan White for not binding allowing Taylor to put his side ahead for the first time in the game just past the half hour mark.

Canterbury went looking for more reward for their dominance in terms of territory and possession and they got it just a couple of minutes later with Taylor's third penalty cementing their lead shortly before the break. There was still time for Waikato to launch a rare attack deep inside the Canterbury 22 but not for the first time, they could not find an opening and headed to the tunnel six points adrift.

A sloppy start to the second half almost gifted a try to Waikato but Canterbury scrambled the ball away to snuff out the danger. It was a rare lapse from a resolute Canterbury defence that continued to deny their rivals the chance to play within striking range. More urgency from Waikato brought them a greater share of possession but handling errors ensured that effort was not rewarded.

There was no let up in the pace of the game or the physicality with the introduction of All Blacks scrum-half Brendon Leonard for Tawera Kerr-Barlow bringing a little more energy to proceedings but Waikato still struggled to breakdown their title rivals. That frustration boiled over on the hour with Waikato lock Romana Graham head-butting Canterbury fullback Sean Maitland but his transgression was missed by the officials.

Donald did his best to make something happen for the home crowd and winger Henry Speight showed great feet to take his side close to the line only for Canterbury to slam the door shut once again. The resulting scrum gave Waikato another chance to build but having held firm in the set piece they lost the ball in contact as they probed in midfield.

They also had to be on their guard in defence as Canterbury went looking for the match-clinching score and a lung-busting series of phases from the visitors eventually drew a penalty with frustration getting the better of Waikato. Taylor's superb long-range effort took his side out to a nine-point lead with just six minutes left in the game. In sight of victory, the Canterbury pack returned to centre stage to close out the game and make it four-in-a-row in New Zealand's provincial competition.

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