Canterbury will square off with Taranaki in Christchurch next week in the semi-finals of the premiership division of the national provincial championship after beating Bay Of Plenty 63 - 22 this afternoon.

Needing the maximum five points from the match to ensure they finished on top of the table Canterbury went about their work in a tradesman like fashion and took in all Bay Of Plenty had to throw at them in the first half before stepping their foot to the floor early in the second stanza.

There will be however concerns over injuries to Matt Todd and Nasi Manu. Todd was substituted early in the first half after being on the receiving endof a nasty tackle and Manu didn't return after half time after a knock when Canterbury were on attack.

Johnny McNicholl was also subbed early in the second half with what appeared to be a wrist injury adding another concern to the growing list of walking wounded Tabai Matson has in his side.

Bay Of Plenty promised a lot in the match, but were outclassed by a far more superior outfit who look on song for their fifth consecutive national title.

Canterbury took their customary 20 minutes to warm into proceedings before Ryan Crotty sliced through a gap in the Bay Of Plenty backline to put Robbie Fruean over for the opening try of the match.

It came on the back of what just minutes earlier looked a certain try to Johnny McNicholl but the pass was ruled forward and play was called back.

The red and blacks powered over their opponents from the subsequent scrum to set the ball in motion to Fruean.
Bay Of Plenty kept themselves in the match though with a penalty to Nick McCashin and then a try from lock Leon Power to trail by five late in the first half.

Tom Taylor extended that margin to eight when he slotted his third penalty of the match almost right on half time.  

With three tries needed in the second half, penalties weren't the answer and a decision to take a scrum from a penalty in a handy position proved to be the right one with McNicholl scoring his 10th try of the season in the corner which Taylor converted.

McNicholl's try opened the floodgates and Canterbury scored two more quick tries through Adam Whitelock and then prop Joe Moody barged over to give his side the necessary points to secure the top spot on the premiership table.

Bay Of Plenty scored their second try of the match after a lengthy third match official decision which saw Henry Maru awarded a five pointer but Canterbury bounced back with a try to replacement winger Telusa Veainu.
Taylor was again flawless with the boot kicking all eight of his attempts at goal through the posts.
Captain George Whitelock scored Canterbury's sixth try before Bay Of Plenty's Tristan Moran burrowed his way over to score with three minutes left to play.

That wasn't to be the last scoring play however with Fruean scoring his second and then Ryan Crotty dashing up the sideline to score right on full time to add salt to the Bay of Plenty wounds.
 
 
Canterbury 63 (Robbie Fruean 2, Adam Whitelock, Johnny McNicholl, Joe Moody, Telusa Veainu, George Whitelock, Ryan Crotty tries; Tom Taylor 3pen. 5 conv. Tyler Bleyendaal 2 conv.)
Bay Of Plenty 22 (Leon Power, Henry Maru, Tristan Moran tries. Nick McCashin 1 pen. 2 conv.)
HT: 16-8

- © Fairfax NZ News

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