Makos crunch Canterbury [Fairfax]
It's official: Tasman are genuine contenders for the National Provincial Championship title and only a fool would bet against them.
Their 38-10 win over defending champions Canterbury on Saturday propelled Tasman into the outright lead of the NPC premiership, and with just one round-robin match remaining, they have already booked themselves a home semifinal.
The news isn't all bad for Canterbury - they too are guaranteed a play-off spot - but after three consecutive losses the return of All Blacks Colin Slade, Ryan Crotty and Tom Taylor from South Africa cannot come soon enough.
Who knows, maybe Dan Carter will also be declared fully fit and join the cavalry, but we all thought was going to be the case for this match until he withdrew with a knee problem.
The Makos moniker certainly suits this lot from Tasman. Like the predators from the deep they have the ability to sniff blood, and any vulnerability, and then sink their teeth in and hang on for grim death.
Openside flanker Shane Christie, in his 50th match, was probably out-pointed by opposite Matt Todd in the turnover count but the Tasman skipper led his side like a crafty terrier as they remained connected in defence and repeatedly put pressure on Canterbury's ball in the tackle.
Others like blindside flanker Tevita Koloamatangi and playmaker Marty Banks also deserve special mention but maybe that is unfair to single them out because so do all their team-mates. This was very impressive.
When you take a deep breath and reflect on this Tasman story you find it impossible to believe the Makos won't be cheering for South Sydney when they meet the Bulldogs in the NRL grand final tomorrow.
That's because Tasman, like the Bunnies, were not supposed to be in a top-flight competition because the accounts staff in the New Zealand Rugby offices didn't like the way the fringe provinces were damaging their balance sheet.
And, as this record win over Canterbury, proves they have the ability to create history if they keep this up.
Canterbury who are desperately missing injured wings Patrick Osborne, Johnny McNicholl and Milford Keresoma struggled to make line breaks and were often hampered by Tasman's umbrella defence.
Maybe it is also time for someone from inside Tasman's tent to tell Jimmy Cowan to ease back on the borderline-feral act.
The former All Blacks halfback has built a reputation for gobbling his angry pills but, at times, you have to wonder if he finds them being too yummy and counts them out - one, two, three, four, five - all for Jimmy.
One of the sweetest touches of the night came from Robbie Malneek; the Tasman fullback, like a magician wafting a scarf in front of a bemused child, flicked a no-look inside pass to left wing James Lowe who screamed in on a diagonal run to score under the bar.Cowan was involved a number of scuffles, many of them unnecessary; no doubt his orders were to unsettle his opponents but the frustrated officials may not be so kind during the play-offs if the senseless antics continue.
Lowe had earlier played his part in flummoxing the defence when he sauntered into first-receiver off a scrum, accepted Cowan's pass and unloaded to midfielder David Havili who couldn't believe his fortune as three Canterbury defenders ignored his presence.
Two late tries to Banks and Lowe just compounded Canterbury's misery.
Tasman 38 (James Lowe 2, David Havili, Jimmy Cowan, Marty Banks tries; Banks 5 con, pen) Canterbury 10 (Matt Todd try; Richie Mo'unga con, pen). HT: 14-3.
