Canterbury more dynamic; Barnes appeared laid back …

The visitors had the advantage of the varying wind in the first half. Their opposition secured the high kick-off then both teams were dispossessed having hardly had the ball. Canterbury next put together a near-perfect set of varied phases, starting from 26 metres out. After 11 phases, a chip over was regained then they recovered from an error after 2 more. There were 4 more phases before getting into the 22 and one more blind sent fullback Moss away and to the posts after 2 minutes. Their retention was excellent and Barnes after defending well were in the end caught out. Centre Best converted.

Canterbury cleared the longer restart to touch to 13 metres inside their half. From the line-out Barnes' scrumhalf Franklin ran close to forwards with the tapped ball and made some yards. The ball was recycled close 6 times then sent wide for wing Sagar to run to the line then come in to the posts at 5 minutes. Fullback O'Toole added.

The visitors secured the high restart and recycled 3 times then their kick was charged down. Canterbury got the ball and soon sent lock Burns to the line at 7 minutes. The conversion was wide.

Canterbury kicked back the restart then opposition fly-half Williams-Davies sent a very good kick into touch 14 metres from the home team's line. From the line-out Canterbury advanced with a couple of phases until penalised 11 metres inside their half. The kick gave the visitors a line-out 12 metres out, from which they set to drive to the line. The defence held and got a put-in at the same distance. After a no. 8 pick-up and one recycle they chipped over; Barnes recycled twice before kicking into the 22. Canterbury ran the ball and recycled it 8 times before their opponents forced an error to get a scrum 2 metres inside their half. Barnes went wide but immediately dropped the ball 6 metres further back. From the next scrum Canterbury put together 6 mainly wide phases before chipping over. Barnes kicked ahead then Canterbury ran the ball again and advanced recycling 5 times mostly wide before losing the ball just before the line at 18 minutes. This gave the visitors a defensive scrum 5 metres out and this was stolen against the head. Canterbury put together 6 phases getting close before being awarded a penalty and chose a scrum, again 5 metres out. There was another penalty in the scrum which resulted in another scrum. After a no. 8 pickup and two recycles they were forced into touch. The visitors threw their line-out long and it was adjudged not-straight. From the third scrum Canterbury went wide then recycled 5 times before fly-half Beaumont dummied then went to the posts at 25 minutes. Best added.

Canterbury ran the restart back with 5 phases well into the other half before the ball was spilled. Barnes' centre Holmes set off with it and O'Toole finished not far from the posts at 28 minutes. His conversion was drifted wide by the wind.

The visitors secured the restart and soon sent Sagar off from the blind side; after 3 recycles in the opposition 22 the ball was passed forward 10 metres out. From their scrum Canterbury quickly went wide and broke into the other half with 5 mostly close phases but breaking through wider twice. They lost possession and Barnes set up another attack; they advanced to get a penalty at the opposition 10 metre line and ran it. After a good run by wing Carlisle, lock Collins touched down not far from the posts at 33 minutes. O'Toole added to level the scores.

Canterbury regained their restart but were almost immediately penalised. The kick took the visitors to a line-out 18 metres from the opposition line. The line-out wasn't dealt with cleanly and Canterbury hacked ahead a loose ball before the Ref. went back for a Barnes' scrum 19 metres out. From that they broke blind then recycled once close then once to inside centre to get to the line. Two more close phases got them over but they were held up. From the 5 metre scrum 5 phases saw flanker Robertson go over a distance from the posts. The conversion missed before the halftime whistle.

The high second half restart was dropped by the visitors; Canterbury ran the ball and were forced into touch 12 metres out. Barnes advanced to their scrum put-in 3 metres ahead then broke blind from that and tried an up-and-under after recycling once. Canterbury dealt with this and put together 7 mostly wider phases before the other Best, a wing, dummied to go over wide out at 4 minutes. The conversion was wide, bringing the scores level again.

Canterbury dealt with the close restart, recycled twice then kicked to touch just outside the opposition 22. The line-out wasn't secured but did result in a put-in for the visitors at their 22. They put together 5 phases before being turned over; the opposition dropped the first pass giving Barnes another scrum, this time 30 metres out. From that they advanced to halfway with 4 close recycles to get a penalty which they ran wide. Then after good retention and recycling through a dozen phases but not advancing much they launched an up-and-under that was dropped by the opposition 9 metres ahead. From the under-pressure scrum they advanced recycling 7 times before the defence forced an error to get a scrum just outside their 22. After this Canterbury kicked long to touch; Barnes took a quick throw-in and ran the ball. The opposition were up quick and got a penalty at the first ruck after that. They chose to go for the 3 points but missed. The 22 drop-out was fielded without pressure then in no time Canterbury's no. 8 Micans broke through any defence to go to the posts at 18 minutes. Best added.

Canterbury secured the restart and recycled 3 times before kicking well to touch 9 metres from the visitors' line. Barnes got a penalty at the line-out; their kick didn't find touch and the ball was run back with replacement front row forward Hilton breaking through to go over wide out 2 minutes after the previous try. The conversion missed.

Canterbury secured the restart and immediately broke out; they went wide and an offload created the first break then they only needed two more recycles , one close and the other wide to get deep into the opposition 22 before they were forced into touch 5 metres out. Barnes recycled close 3 times before their scrumhalf Franklin made a break. They kicked ahead a loose ball that the opposition then ran and kicked back into the 22. The visitors cleared to touch giving their opponents a line-out just before halfway. Canterbury kept the ball tight before being penalised; Barnes ran this before being turned over after 4 phases. Canterbury kicked long; Barnes put together 8 varied phases before losing possession. The opposition kicked long again; the visitors ran the ball in their 22 then were turned over at the next breakdown. Canterbury advanced with the ball to get a penalty 5 metres out which they ran sending replacement Rosval over at the corner at 28 minutes. The conversion was wide and the lead 17 points.

Canterbury secured the restart and recycled close 3 times before the opposition forced an error. Advantage was played and Barnes put together 3 phases before the defence forced an error to get a put-in 17 metres out. Following the scrum and one recycle, Barnes were penalised; Canterbury ran this into the other half then recycled twice before kicking to touch 16 metres from their opponents' line. From the line-out the visitors kept the ball close to get a penalty 3 metres further from their line. They ran the penalty with 8 phases before they in turn were penalised 14 metres into the opposition half. Now Canterbury ran the ball wide; they recycled close 3 times, being forced back but only to their scrum 28 metres out. They threw the ball from side to side before being penalised 14 metres inside their half then were marched 10 metres further back. The kick took Barnes to a line-out 14 metres out. Soon after it they were dispossessed and the opposition went wide sending Rosval away to the other 22 where his pass was intercepted. Barnes recycled a couple of times before breaking back into the opposition half then on to the 22. Four close phases then got them a penalty 10 metres out, put into touch for a line-out 5 metres out. Their pack set to drive and went down 3 metres out. This resulted in another penalty and another 5 metre line-out. This time the drive got to the line where the ball was recycled twice close before another drive was started. Then the Ref. went to the posts for a penalty try that O'Toole converted before the whistle.

Dry, cool & overcast at the start then brightening and warmer later, some wind; the pitch firm and wide.