Makos make it even at Eden [Fairfax]
Tasman still haven't tasted NPC rugby success at Auckland rugby's stronghold, Eden Park, but they came up with the next best thing yesterday.
On a rainswept Auckland afternoon, Shane Christie's Makos drew 16-16 with the home side, both teams scoring just one try each and having late opportunities to break the stalemate.
Marty Banks' 48m penalty attempt into the wind with just three minutes remaining fell short, then his counterpart Simon Hickey pushed a last-minute attempt wide of the uprights to consign the match to a relatively lacklustre draw.
Both teams tried to use the ball and create space but were unable to take control of a match that was there for the taking - by either side.
Playing with the advantage of the strong breeze at their backs Tasman were frustratingly unable to dominate the early running. They conceded a series of penalties which, when followed by lineout drives from the home side, prevented them from getting into the match.
With 93 per cent of possession in the first 10 minutes, Auckland should have done better. They spurned a couple of shots at goal to seek richer reward, but were denied by some stoic Tasman defence and a solid Makos scrum, anchored by Ross Geldenhuys and Siua Halanukonuka. Then, when Pete Samu created a turnover, the siege was lifted and Auckland departed their opponents' 22 pointless.
Now it was Tasman's turn and, when they were awarded a turnover after Auckland couldn't clear from a scrum inside their 22, Banks slid a superbly weighted grubber kick into the in-goal area. Fullback Charles Piutau couldn't gather, the ball squirting to fellow All Black Steven Luatua.
His attempted clearance underlined why he is a lineout option, not a kicking option, the ball barely making it into the field of play where a grateful Makos hooker Quentin MacDonald gathered it in and plunged over the line untouched.
Banks' conversion gave the Makos an early 7-0 lead, which he stretched to 10-0 soon after with a superbly struck penalty from five metres inside his own half.
Still keen to play dry weather footy in the rain, the Makos set up a series of attacks using both backs and forwards. Hard-working locks Tevita Cavubati and Joe Wheeler were to the fore, but a tendency to move laterally denied the visitors the necessary go forward to again breach the Auckland defence.
For the final 10 minutes of the half the home side enjoyed their best period on attack. Hickey landed a penalty goal to open their account as midfielders Francis Saili and George Moala used their pace and power to stretch the defences. A turnover on the stroke of halftime by MacDonald saw Tasman up 10-3.
He and his officiating team, who seemed slightly out of their depth, missed a Hickey knock-on soon after, the resulting break coming close to producing a Piutau try which was only denied by superb scrambling defence.Two minutes after the break, Hickey reduced the margin by three, but Banks replied four minutes later as Aussie ref Damien Mitchelmore continued to play a merry tune on his whistle.
When Auckland's try came it was superb. A botched Tasman lineout near the home side's 22 handed possession over, the ball was moved left where Saili made a half gap and linked with his halfback Junior Poluleuligaga.
He shifted the ball to lock Jack Whetton who was felled three metres short of the line. From the ruck Luatua made amends for his kicking faux pas by scooting over on the blindside and, with Hickey's sideline conversion, the scores were tied.
The momentum continued in Auckland's favour, Hickey giving the home team their first lead of the match at 16-13 after 65 minutes with his third penalty success when Christie was harshly ruled to have lingered too long at the back of the Auckland ruck.
With the Makos now playing catch-up and seeming to lack penetration, the game appeared Auckland's for the taking. But their kicking accuracy proved costly, several times putting the ball into touch on the full.
Auckland's inability to exit their territory gave Banks a chance to level the scores in the 73rd minute. He duly converted, bringing up his 50th point in just three matches and sending the match into its dramatic final moments.
Post match comments were, unsurprisingly, rather muted.
Auckland skipper Tom McCartney: "It was disappointing to get a draw but, against a quality team like that, you know, we won't be happy but you've just got to take it."
Makos skipper Christie: "We probably got what we deserved. We've got a lot to learn from that - especially our forward pack. We'll be a better team for it. We'll right the wrongs and move on."
Makos points-scoring machine Marty Banks: "It's not the result we wanted, but a good stepping stone."
Although they came away without a groundbreaking Eden Park win, it is a sign of the growing maturity and expectation surrounding this Tasman side that they considered this an opportunity lost, rather than just an heroic effort against more powerful and favoured rival.
