Canterbury down North Harbour

Job done: Canterbury celebrate in Albany

Canterbury had little trouble beating North Harbour 36-9 in Albany on Saturday, increasing their run as Air New Zealand Cup title contenders.

The visitors played with positive intent as they scored five tries to none and consolidate their second placing behind Wellington through six rounds.

The match was meant to mark the return of the highly touted Stephen Brett after an injury-enforced absence, but team management instead chose to start with Colin Slade at number ten when Brett complained of calf problems this week.

That also meant Paul Williams was shifted from wing to full-back, where he proved a constant menace on the counter-attack, setting up Canterbury's first try and scoring the second as they went into the half-time break 21-3 ahead.

North Harbour conceded two of the three first half tries from Jimmy Gopperth kicks, first when Williams launched a counter for lock Isaac Ross to score and then when number eight Mose Tuiali'i ran the ball back before winger Scott Hamilton fed Michael Paterson for the big lock to score in the 40th minute.

All North Harbour had to show for their efforts was a 50-metre penalty from Gopperth, who traded more penalties with Slade after the interval before the try-scoring action resumed through Canterbury wing James Paterson.

North Harbour's defence stiffened markedly in the second half but James Paterson used his pace and clever footwork to create space for himself down the left-hand touchline in the 66th minute.

He doubled his haul seven minutes later, this time beating his marker on the outside before veering infield to catch the home side's defenders short again.

The scorers:

For North Harbour:

Pens: Gopperth 3

For Canterbury:

Tries: Ross, Williams, M Paterson, J Paterson 2

Cons: Slade 4

Pen: Slade

North Harbour: 15 Hayden Abercrombie, 14 Jack McPhee, 13 Mike Harris, 12 Jon Elrick, 11 Nafi Tuitavake, 10 Jimmy Gopperth (c), 9 Chris Smylie, 8 Viliame Maafu, 7 Malakai Ravulo, 6 Tom Chamberlain, 5 Martin Purdy, 4 Chris Smith, 3 Michael Reid, 2 James Hinchco, 1 James Afoa.

Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Sam Biddles, 18 Richard Mayhew, 19 Robbie Colhoun, 20 Matt France, 21 Josh York, 22 Jona Tuitoga.

Canterbury: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Adam Whitelock, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 James Paterson, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Mose Tuiali'i, 7 Hayden Hopgood, 6 Kieran Read (c), 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Michael Paterson, 3 Campbell Johnstone, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: 16 Steve Fualau, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Nasi Manu, 19 George Whitelock, 20 Steve Alfeld, 21 Tim Bateman.

Referee: Garratt Williamson

TMO: Vinny Munro