Canterbury and Tasman lock up spots in Premiership semifinals

• Author: RUGBY
• Published date: 08 November 2021
• Publication title: Bay of Plenty Times

Canterbury leapfrogged Bay of Plenty into the playoffs with a 40-28 victory in Christchurch, while Tasman did likewise to Wellington with a 34-22 win in Blenheim.

After three straight losses threatened to leave them outside the top four for a second straight season, Canterbury will now head north to tackle Waikato in this weekend’s semifinals.

Tasman, bidding to win three straight Premiership titles, have the tough task of visiting table-topping Hawke’s Bay, who warmed up for the semifinals with a 25-16 friendly win over Northland at McLean Park in Napier.

Canterbury’s victory was far less straightforward but the red and blacks eventually outlasted a determined Bay of Plenty side playing their third match in eight days.

The hosts enjoyed supremacy in possession, field position and at the set piece, but led only 24-21 at the break and let the Steamers stay in touch until the final minutes.

It looked like it would be a much more comfortable afternoon when tries to Chay Fihaki and Dallas McLeod put Canterbury 14-0 up inside seven minutes.

But Bay of Plenty hit back through Leroy Carter and Peni Lasaqa, before McLeod completed a first-half double and Waisake Naholo dotted down to complete a wild first half.

The second was much more restrained, and unfortunately for Bay of Plenty, after Lucas Cashmore had given them an early lead, it...