Classy Makos bag the Stags [Fairfax]
If anyone thought Tasman might curb their attacking instincts after last week's gut-wrenching loss to Taranaki, they can think again.
The Makos banked five vital NPC points with a superb 38-14 win over Southland at Rugby Park in Invercargill last night, and showed no signs of tempering the all-out attack that has them in contention for a semifinal position in the premiership.
As they demonstrated in their previous match, when they produce such a highly paced inter-passing, offloading game very few sides can live with them. Certainly the Stags couldn't. It was a big night for the locals, with accomplished lock Josh Bekhuis playing his 100th match for the province, but the Makos were in no mood to help him celebrate.
The other sideshow involved the irrepressible Jimmy Cowan. Once an adored Stag, now an adopted Mako, the southern crowd let the halfback know what they thought of his change of loyalties but, as usual, Cowan had the last laugh.
He had a mixed game. After darting over for a 10th minute try, then throwing the "fins up" salute to the Rugby Park faithful, the Blues recruit for next season got himself sin-binned 14 minutes into the second half, although the game was well in the bag by then.
There was sting in the Makos' attack from the outset. Marty Banks landed a penalty after just six minutes, then his side swept straight back onto attack, a lineout drive creating the necessary momentum for flanker Pete Samu to wriggle over the line. After a lengthy TMO referral he was awarded the try, which Banks duly converted.
Fourteen minutes later came Cowan's effort, also from a strong set piece. A dominant scrum forced a turnover of the home side's ball and, when the Makos pack surged towards the line from the reset, the ball squirted out.
Quick work from No 8 Liam Squire had the ball in Cowan's hands and he made no mistake from close range. Banks converted, then scored himself two minutes later, after skipper Shane Christie had charged down a Lima Sopoaga clearing kick.
The first-five added the extras and the Makos had established a 24-0 lead after the first quarter.
Despite enjoying only 30 per cent of territory and 40 per cent possession during the first spell, Southland managed to get on the board by halftime, their lively hooker Dillan Halaholo bursting around the front of a 5m lineout to catch the Makos' defence napping.
A muddled lineout near Tasman's line handed over possession which Quentin MacDonald booted up towards halfway.Sopoaga's conversion gave the home fans hope at 24-7 and, soon after the restart, the Stags swept onto attack, seeking the second try that would get them back into the match, before it all went pear-shaped.
A Southland defender took the ball out so MacDonald opted for the quick throw and, when the ball was worked across to James Lowe on the left wing he found just enough space to wriggle clear of his marker and sprint away for the decisive score. Banks converted from the sideline to maintain his perfect record for the evening.
Cowan's sin-binning, for two indiscretions in quick succession, had little bearing on proceedings. Southland were forced to play catch-up rugby and, when they kicked away possession in midfield, Makos' replacement David Havili latched onto it and burst through the middle. His long pass to Lowe sent the winger in for his second, Tasman's fifth, and the match was done and dusted.
Southland scored a consolation try through Billy Fukofuka but it was all too little, too late. The biggest Southland cheer of the second spell, apart from when Cowan was binned, came as former All Blacks rake, 36-year-old Andrew Hore, replaced Halaholo in the front row.
Makos skipper Christie, who missed the Taranaki match, told Sky TV after the match: "We're pretty happy with that performance. It was always going to be a hard game coming down here . . . they're passionate boys, so it was a good effort from us."
Quizzed about his side's all-out attacking style, Christie explained it simply.
"We've got good structures and we try and express ourselves. We just play what we see and have a good time, try to enjoy our rugby . . . and that's what we did today."
Rival skipper Jamie Mackintosh described Tasman as "a pretty classy outfit". "We just got caught in our half," he said. "We were staring down the barrel of a licking but got back into the match straight after halftime. We could have scored some points and made a game of it then, but we let our foot off the throat."
It was hard to find fault with too many of the Tasman crew, obviously stung by the fallout from their previous match. Loosies Christie, Samu and Squire continue to impress, especially when compared to their highly rated Southland rivals Tim Boys, John Hardie and Elliot Dixon. But the Makos boys had the advantage of working with a superior tight five, led superbly by Tim Perry, Joe Wheeler and Alex Ainley.
Banks worked mainly as a distributor, while out wide Bryce Heem, Lowe, Robbie Malneek, replacement Havili and Kieron Fonotia attacked the line at every opportunity.
Southland coach Brad Mooar will be hard pressed to pick too many positives out of this one. His side didn't fire many shots on an evening when they should have been motivated to mark the Bekhuis milestone with aplomb.
Ultimately, the match underlined Tasman's status as genuine premiership contenders, and exposed some of the home side's shortcomings.
FINAL WHISTLE
Tasman 38 (James Lowe 2, Pete Samu, Jimmy Cowan, Marty Banks tries; Banks 5 con, 1 pen)
Southland 14 (Dillan Halaholo, Billy Fukofuka tries; Lima Sopoaga 1 con, Scott Eade 1 con). HT: 24-7
