Canterbury will host Wellington in next Saturday's NPC final after getting the better of Taranaki in this evening's second semi final , 31-23.

But this was not a vintage Canterbury performance, Taranaki made sure of that. Their game is based around the ruggedness of their forward play and tonight they competed ferociously for every scrap of possession and defended with a desperation which ensured that there was nothing very pretty about the proceedings.

The Taranaki scrum was rock solid, despite conceding a considerable weight advantage , Paul Tito was in irrepressible form in the second row, despite being sin-binned in the second half, and loose forwards Campbell Feather, Brent Thompson and Neil Crowley gave their more illustrious opponents as good as they got.Fly half Mark Urwin had a strong first half and full back Daryll Lilley a generally sound game, but it was centre Mepi Foagali who was the pick of the Taranaki backs. He frequently broke the gain line and is expert at either off loading possession or supporting at the shoulder of the ball carrier.

Andrew Mehrtens was outstanding for Canterbury, his tactical control becoming more marked as the contest proceeded.He also impressed with a number of dangerous breaks which created try scoring opportunities and always kept the Taranaki defence on its toes.Amongst the forwards, young no8 Sam Broomhall was the pick, his surges with ball in hand , particularly in the second half, setting off alarm bells in a generally secure and brave defence.

Taranaki made a storming start, taking the play to Canterbury and signalling they were neither overawed nor intimidated. They were rewarded with a try beneath the posts , scored by So'olefai, after a line out catch and drive had created the opening in the midle of the field.Lilley's conversion opened up a useful, well-deserved lead.

Canterbury worked their way back into the game, gradually not spectacularly. Although Fijian winger Vunibaka did score a stunning try after Gibson had made a half break and offloaded on the half way line.Coming off the right wing, Vunibaka raced around Lilley in an arcing run to the left hand corner, and this was the boost his side needed .Full back Ben Blair added three penalties to give his side an interval lead of 14-7, a fair reflection of how Canterbury had assumed control after Taranaki's energetic start.

In the second half Canterbury did enough to keep Taranaki at bay.The visitors' energy levels did not drop, but the accuracy of their play suffered as they came under the inevitable Cantabrian pressure. Mayerhofler scored after a clever Mehrtens break and pass, and Robertson, much more involved in the second half, scored another try soon afterwards after a Broomhall break had opened up the befence.Both tries were scored, incidentally, during that ten minute period whilst Tito was in the sin-bin.

Three penalties from Lilley kept his side in touch, although two others early in the half had the misfortune to hit the woodwork, and Fa'atau's intercept try of a Blackadder pass to Ralph did close the gap to five points and increase anxiety levels amongst Canterbury supporters.But Taranaki could never again achieve the consistent level of pressure that would seriously have tested the home defence.Blair's late penalty made Taranaki's task impossible.

In the final analysis, a brave effort from the men from the North Island, but in the end the big match winning experience of Canterbury was decisive. Against Wellington they will have to play an entirely different sort of game if they are to add the NPC title to their Super 12 crown and the Ranfurly Shield.

Scorers :

Canterbury : 31

Tries : Vunibaka, Mayerhofler, Robertson. Conversions : Blair (2). Penalties : Blair (4)

Taranaki : 23

Tries : So'olefai, Fa'atau. Conversions : Lilley, Urwin. Penalties : Lilley (3)