Makos forwards pave way for 6-try romp [Nelson Mail]

Creating history, by it's very nature, evokes certain memories.

It's taken eight games and seven years, but the Tasman Makos have finally, and emphatically, broken their Otago hoodoo. And few who witnessed Tasman's 49-16 ITM Cup rugby win over the Razorbacks at Trafalgar Park last night are likely to forget the spectacle, much less the occasion.

It ended a miserable week for the Otago team. With Hawke's Bay having already sunk a knife deep into Otago's back after the Magpies' successful Ranfurly Shield challenge last Sunday, Tasman gave it another couple of sharp twists last night.

Tasman's six-try romp was significant on a number of counts. Beating Otago for the first time was notable enough, but helping Tasman lock Joe Wheeler celebrate his 50th appearance for the province in the appropriate manner added even more weight to the achievement.

With Wheeler again playing a central role in another faultless Tasman lineout display - and backed up once again by a dominant scrum - Tasman's backs eventually unleashed some superb attacking play on their way to an exhilarating bonus point win. And for Wheeler, he couldn't have asked for a more suitable effort from his team-mates.

"I'm just stoked. I think it's been seven years we haven't beaten Otago in an NPC match so I think that's the most pleasing thing for me tonight," said Wheeler.

"[It's] the team first and if we get a result, that just makes it all the sweeter. I mean, personal milestones are great, but when the team performs and gets a win, that's even better in my eyes. So I was just stoked for the boys and stoked for the union that we got that monkey off our backs."

Tasman led just 20-13 at the break on the back of first half tries to flankers Liam Squire and the ever-present Shane Christie and the accurate boot of 19-point fullback Marty Banks. But after Otago had opened the try-scoring through their loosehead prop Craig Millar in just the 14th minute, after Otago had absorbed much of the early pressure, it appeared that poor execution and the Otago bogey might be ready to strike once again.

Tasman's 7-point halftime lead was reduced to just four shortly after the restart as Otago No 10 Hayden Parker added the last of his three penalty successes. That was to be Otago's lot though, as further tries to impressive No 8 Tevita Koloamatangi, another two to power-packed winger James Lowe and the last to substitute winger Mitchell Scott saw Tasman bury Otago in an exciting display of attacking rugby.

Unusually subdued during the first half, Tasman second five-eighth Tom Marshall left an indelible mark on the game with some blistering attacks as a key figure in Tasman's second half rout. Substitute fullback Robbie Malneek also returned from a first-round hamstring injury to again remind everyone of his pace with a withering sideline break in the lead-up to Lowe's first try. Scott also enjoyed his moment, revealing plenty of top-end speed and determination in his second half cameo.

  

Once again though, Tasman's confident second half showing was based around the forwards' set phase dominance.

"That's really pleasing," said Wheeler.

"Set pieces for Tasman over the years have never really been our strongest point. It's something that we've put a lot of emphasis on and a lot of time in.

"If everyone does their role really well and crisp and sharp, then generally it works pretty well. And [hookers] Quentin [MacDonald] and Franco [Francis Smith] have been on the button with their throwing and that makes a huge difference."

Wheeler also acknowledged the backs' superb finishing qualities.

"They played outstanding tonight and it's really nice when you win good set piece ball, you get up and you're 30 metres over the gain line and you're running on to that ball, [that] makes the game pretty easy."

Tasman coach Kieran Keane appreciated his players' efforts, despite some frustrating first half instances of opportunities missed and occasionally sloppy execution.

"It was definitely worth the wait," said Keane in response to the team's breakthrough win.

"I suppose the danger is that we get carried away with it but to be fair, we need to celebrate it because it is a bit of a milestone.

"There's been a bit of emphasis all week to get that one off our backs, so to do it with a degree of style . . . we've got to celebrate that I believe."

Keane was particularly delighted for Wheeler.

"There were a few milestones out there today and for Joey it was great for him because he's had a great season thus far and really stepped up in the leadership ranks as well, so I'm really happy for him.

"He deserves what he got today."

Tasman now prepare for their third consecutive Friday night contest when they face North Harbour in Albany in round five.

FINAL WHISTLE Tasman 49 (James Lowe 2, Liam Squire, Shane Christie, Tevita Koloamatangi, Mitchell Scott tries, Marty Banks 3 pens, 5 cons) Otago 16 (Craig Millar try, Hayden Parker 3 pens, con) Ht 20-13. For more rugby, along with America's Cup yachting, US Open tennis, college football, hockey and basketball, head to our sports section on pages 9, 10 and 11