Makos gallant in 5 tries a piece, 2 bonus points loss to Canterbury 32-26
Flying winger Telusa Veainu grabbed a hat-trick of tries to set up Canterbury's nail-biting ITM Cup win over Tasman but admitted to some anxious moments as the Makos mounted a daring late comeback.
Canterbury clung on for a 36-32 win in a 10-try romp against their Crusaders franchise partners after leading 36-15 midway through the second half at Lansdowne Park last night.
Veainu, whose three-try haul included a scorching 80m intercept, said it was "always good to get three dots under your name". "It was pretty much our game-plan to spread it wide, that's our strength and when we did get it out there I thought we executed pretty well.
"But we relaxed towards the end and they came back. We've learned our lesson in that department."
Veainu finished clinically down the right flank and flying Fijian Patrick Osborne was equally impressive with two tries on Canterbury's right wing.
But Crusaders fullback Tom Marshall launched Tasman's revival with a 70m intercept try after snapping up a pass from Canterbury halfback Willi Heinz, who was standing in at second-five as backs coach Tabai Matson juggled his backline resources.
Veteran No8 Mark Bright atoned for a first-half howler by rumbling over twice to secure a deserved bonus point for the Makos.
Canterbury coach Rob Penney conceded it "obviously got a bit closer than we would have liked".
"We lost a bit of concentration at times and they capitalised on our frailties. Tasman have got a lot of courage and they got a sniff and they went for it."
The Makos, who beat Canterbury in Nelson last season, paid dearly for blowing two first-half tries but the red-and-blacks were resilient in defence on their own goal-line.
Penney singled out finishers Veainu and Osborne for special praise and said lock Luke Romano was prominent around the field, flanker Brendon O'Connor had another strong game and powerful prop Paea Fa'anunu continued to please.
Penney was delighted to bank a second consecutive five-point haul against championship opposition but said there was not much between the teams in each conference.
With "a lot of young blokes" in the competition, performances were "like toilet seats – they are up one week and down the next".
Penney said Canterbury's set pieces were still not accurate enough and they needed to show more "robustness".
It looked to be all over at halftime with Canterbury ahead 19-3 after Veainu's first touchdown and two tries to Osborne – the second after a brilliantly executed tactical kick from young first-five Tyler Bleyendaal.
But it wasn't all one way in the first spell with Tasman camped in Canterbury's half without reward after James Marshall dropped the ball over the line and Bright grassed a pass after supporting a break by skipper Andrew Goodman. Goodman got across early in the second spell but Canterbury scampered out to a 26-8 lead when Veainu seized a Makos pass in his own 22 and had too much toe for his chasers.
He had his hat-trick soon after when Canterbury spread the ball quickly after halfback Mark Swanepoel created the initial impetus.
But Tasman coach Kieran Keane got good value from his impact players with replacement flanker Tevita Koloamatangi scoring from halfback Shawn Begg's pass.
Ahead 33-15, Canterbury captain George Whitelock chose to save his side's legs by giving Tom Taylor two long-range penalty attempts. He nailed his second effort for a 21-point lead but the Makos forwards muscled up and Canterbury paid for some crucial turnovers.
Marshall's long-range try had the Marlborough crowd on their feet and warhorse forward Bright barged over twice – the last on the fulltime hooter after flanker Shane Christie had been held up over the line for a 5m scrum.
The home fans streamed for the exits wishing there had been more time to allow the Makos the chance to beat up big brother again.
But former All Blacks captain Reuben Thorne, who played for the full 80 minutes would have been relieved to hear the final whistle with an outing looming tomorrow for High School Old Boys.
Canterbury 36 (Patrick Osborne 2, Telusa Veainu 3 tries; Tyler Bleyendaal 2 con, Tom Taylor pen, 2 con) Tasman 32 (Mark Bright 2, Andrew Goodman, Tevita Koloamatangi, Tom Marshall, tries; Goodman pen, 2 con). Halftime: 19-3.
- The Press
