Makos shed tears after epic challenge [Marl Express]

It was devastating for the Tasman Makos rugby players and for their small but vocal band of supporters at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth on Saturday night after their heart-breaking 40-49 loss in the Ranfurly Shield challenge.

Tears were shed in the Makos' dressing room and none felt it more than outstanding skipper Andrew Goodman.

He was choked for words afterwards and so, too, the rest of the team and coaches.

However, the overwhelming reaction among the 10,000-plus crowd and the Taranaki team afterwards was one of utter relief and praise for the outstanding challenge put up.

This was one of the great Ranfurly Shield matches - edge-of-your-seat stuff the whole way and the Makos came so desperately close to pulling off what would have been a huge upset.

Ramon Sutherland, who captained the Mighty Marlborough Red Devils rugby team to win the shield off Canterbury at Lancaster Park in 1973, had talked to the team midweek in Nelson as part of the match build-up.

He applauded their performance yesterday.

"I thought they played pretty well. That's the way they said they had to play it, to attack. They played the ideal game.

"There were a few defensive issues and penalties and Taranaki played well. Tasman certainly gave it everything and you couldn't have asked for much more."

Marlborough-based players flanker Joe Wheeler, hooker Quentin MacDonald and prop Tim Perry were three of the standout performers, but it was no consolation to them afterwards.

The mood at New Plymouth airport yesterday morning as the team prepared to fly home reflected the result.

But they don't have long to get themselves up again for the next match against Manawatu at Palmerston North on Sunday.