Tasman place 3rd at Southern 7s; qualify for National 7s in Rotorua

The Cantabrians were routed but the southern men proved a stumbling block as the Tasman Makos' sevens team finished third at the South Island tournament.

The Tasman vanguard completed the task assigned to them in Timaru by securing a place in January's national finals in Rotorua, with three wins and two losses. A handful have also made it difficult for the selectors to leave them out when the Super Rugby boys come back into the frame.

The Makos started like champagne was still wet on the boots from celebrating ITM Cup Championship success. They stamped their mark on the competition early, beating Canterbury 19-5 in their opening game on Saturday.

The Makos were the only team to topple the eventual champions in competition. Tasman's top try-scorer (5) Sione Holani picked up a try either side of halftime before Robbie Malneek capped off a strong second half, turning a 5-5 halftime stalemate into an upset win.

Tasman did not replicate the result in their next two hit outs as they scored three good tries but couldn't contain Otago in a 24-15 loss. Tasman's big ball carriers got them out to an early lead with two tries but then errors snuck-in and possession, or lack of it, is decisive in sevens.

Southland were simply too slick for the Makos in the third match. They put Tasman under pressure and they failed to adapt to the aggressive defence and ended up chasing the game. Southland would later lose the final 33-17 against a humming Canterbury team after edging Tasman for a place in the final.

The lull ended and Tasman's day was bookended with fine performances as host South Canterbury were beaten 19-12. Mid Canterbury were dispatched 26-17 as first captain James Lash, then Daniel Hytongue finished the day with some flair.

South Canterbury were tenacious, even after Robbie Malneek dusted off his trademark after-burner boots for a length-of-the-field break-out try on the back of accurate wide passing.

Tasman, however, looked a lot better when they sought out contact, and muscled up physically in the centre before attempting the wide-wide game. Leading 19-5 with two-minutes to play, South Canterbury backed themselves to comeback for a draw after scoring late, but Tasman held them out.

Mid-Canterbury caught Tasman when they were relaxed but maintained the stamina to hound in defence and punish errors.

Again, Tasman looked a little lost when they broke into a touch-rugby mould, playing keep-away, pulling back from the defensive line and going backwards. Enter Willie Umu. The Fijian lad played with strength and determination, but most importantly he played up the middle. On the front foot, and backed up by Holani, Tasman's playmakers and steppers were now afforded space and a retreating defensive line.

 

Lash capitalised almost immediately, making and crossing for two well-taken tries. He held up the opposition's fatigued defenders with the ball in two hands and backed his speed to scoot into gaps.

The final try of the day for Tasman was a solo effort by Hytongue, who showed a range of skills as he crashed over in a two-man tackle. Acceleration and stepping off both feet got Hytongue to the line, power and determination got him over.

Coaches Gary Stevens and Sam Gibbens would be pleased to see Lash (31 points) control the game well and relied on Malneek's experience and game-breaking ability. Hytongue had the X-factor along with Holani who matched the impressive Umu for power and go forward.

Some young guys garnered more experience, some making their debut in the white sevens' strip, but others added to their tally. Kerehama Barrett, Trael Joass, Hana Corbett-Burrows, Pelefoti Siaki and Latham Jones were among those who played important roles.

Bryce Heem, Tevita Koloamatangi, James Lowe, Billy Guyton and Mitchell Scott will add pluck coming into the side over the next six weeks. There is also an option to bring in some players from the top college teams like Fletcher Matthews and Te Puoho and Turoa Stephens.

Yet, it was mission accomplished for Stevens as he spoke to the Nelson Mail from Timaru.

"The whole objective of us coming here was to qualify," Stevens said.

"We knew it was going to be harder without a number of players available to us for this weekend. But this is the first stage done, big tick, qualified."

The Tasman Makos sevens team will play Canterbury and one other province in an invitational tournament in two weeks to get battle hardened for the national sevens champs in Rotorua on January 11 and 12.

SEVENS WRAP

Men's results: Tasman 19 v Canterbury 5, Tasman 15 v Otago 24, Tasman 14 v Southland 26, Tasman 19 v South Canterbury 12, Tasman 26 v Mid Canterbury 17. Women's results: Tasman 12 v Otago 40, Tasman 7 v Canterbury 42, Tasman 12 v Southland 24, Tasman 31 v South Canterbury 5.