The Ranfurly Shield has changed hands for the third time this season, with Canterbury defeating Southland 54-14 in Invercargill on Saturday.

Canterbury now hold the record for the most successful Ranfurly Shield challenges with 17 in total, one ahead of Auckland.

Southland's Shield tenure ended at six days, after the challengers got on the scoreboard early and often at Rugby Park.

Undefeated so far this NPC season, Canterbury scored nearly a point a minute for the first half hour, as they set the foundation to lift the Shield for the first time since 2019.

In-form Canterbury No.8 Corey Kellow ran off the back of the scrum to score the opening try in the fifth minute, bringing up his sixth of the season.

The fancy footwork of former All Black midfielder Dallas McLeod doubled Canterbury's total in the 13th minute, before forward Dominic Gardiner used his long reach to find the try-line and add a third in the 20th minute. Halfback Louie Chapman made it four converted tries before halftime.

The Stags struck first after the break, with hooker Jack Taylor using his pace to reach the line less than five minutes into the second half, but Canterbury replied immediately, with Chapman scoring his second, thanks to the cleanout work of Gardiner.

Jamie Hannah was the beneficiary of some good lineout work by Canterbury, setting the platform for their sixth converted try, as the visitors continued to apply the pressure on attack and defence.

Heavy rain started to fall in Invercargill just before the hour mark and handling errors were costly for Southland, as the opportunities started to slip away in front of a vocal crowd.

All Black George Bell, who came off the bench for Gardiner, used his speed and power to drive into a gap and over for Canterbury's seventh.

The Stags got a consolation converted try from substitute flanker Sam Fischli with less than 10 minutes left in the game.

Canterbury finished the game with 14-men, after Zach Gallagher was sent to the sin bin, but Southland could not take advantage, as McLeod added his second to restore the lead.

Southland have not beaten Canterbury in more than a decade and the loss ended the Stags' three-game NPC winning streak, their best run of form since 2013.

Canterbury will defend the shield against Tasman next Sunday, while Southland host Counties Manukau, also next Sunday.

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