Tasman do enough to beat Northland [Fairfax]
Record-breaking first five-eighth Marty Banks scored all of Tasmans' points in their scrappy 28-13 ITM Cup rugby win over Northland in Whangarei tonight.
Banks' seven penalty kicks and a last-minute converted try also created a new individual match points record for the province, beating the 26 points scored by Tom Marshall against Bay of Plenty back in 2006.
It also ended a two-match losing streak for the Makos against the Taniwha - but it wasn't pretty, with Tasman again squandering a number of try-scoring opportunities before securing the win.
Banks and and opposing No 10, Northland's Dan Hawkins - himself a former Tasman player - produced a 3-all scoreline after 11 minutes.
Tasman's insistence on trying to run the ball out of their own territory often proved costly as tight Northland defence and occasional handling errors meant the visitors struggled to get out of their half.
Northland scored the only try of the half. With Tasman ahead 6-3 following a second Banks penalty, a break by Northland flanker Dan Pryor after 33 minutes saw him offload to winger Rene Ranger on Tasman's quarter-line, Ranger's eventual inpass giving fullback Mathew Wright a clear run to the line.
Northland's 10-6 lead was short-lived however, with a further two Banks penalties giving Tasman a slender 12-10 lead at the break.
Tasman's only real try-scoring opportunity had come early in the piece when No 8 Vernon Fredericks had attempted to dive over a ruck on Northland's line, instead losing the ball forward.
Tasman centre Kieron Fonotia looked threatening and a clean break by winger Mitchell Scott also came to nothing as Northland's clear territorial advantage continued to keep the home team well in the contest.
Fullback Robbie Malneek also went close to opening Tasman's account shortly after the restart when he was held up on the line, Banks adding another two penalties to increase Tasman's lead to 18-10.
Tasman's lead further increased to 21-13 on the back of Banks' boot, before they appeared to finally give themselves a handy buffer when winger Mitchell Scott latched on to a Bryce Heem kick to score between the posts.
However, a television review saw referee Mike Fraser eventually rule a Tasman knock-on inside their own quarter.
Although Tasman spent more time in Northland's territory during the second half, they continued to waste scoring opportunities through poor execution.
However, Banks sealed the win in spectacular fashion, scooping up a spilled Northland pass inside his own quarter before sprinting 80m to score in the corner. His sideline conversion ended the match.
Tasman Makos 28 (Marty Banks try, 7 pens, con) Northland 13 (Mathew Wright try, Dan Hawkins 2 pens, con) HT 12-10
