Tasman end Canterbury's NPC title streak [Fairfax]
Canterbury's six-year reign as national provincial premier rugby champions is over after the Tasman Makos scored a magnificent 26-6 semifinal win over the defending champions tonight at Nelson's Trafalgar Park.
It was Tasman's second win over Canterbury in three weeks but there was much more at stake tonight, with Tasman now heading to New Plymouth to take on Taranaki in next Saturday's premiership final.
It now presents Tasman the opportunity to become the first team to win both the championship and premiership titles in consecutive seasons.
Canterbury weren't helped by the loss of captain and halfback Willi Heinz just before kickoff when he injured a calf muscle during the warm-up, promoting former Nelson College halfback Mitchell Drummond straight into the firing line.
Tasman stunned Canterbury in just the third minute when a thumping tackle by centre Kieron Fonotia on Canterbury hooker Ben Funnell forced a turnover. Tasman halfback Jimmy Cowan kicked to space behind Canterbury's defence, winger James Lowe latching on to the loose ball to score the opening try.
It was also his eighth of the season, beating the Tasman individual record of seven set last year by No 8 Liam Squire.
Canterbury gradually began to find their feet as the pressure continued to mount on Tasman's defence. Tasman responded admirably as their line speed and accuracy continued to deny Canterbury's constant attempts to breach the line.
It took all of 28 minutes for Canterbury to finally get on the board through a Tom Taylor penalty, however a reply from Tasman No 10 Marty Banks just five minutes, following by a second Taylor success soon after restored Tasman's advantage to 10-6.
But Tasman ended the half just as they'd begun, fullback Robbie Malneek sparking a spectacular sideline attack from inside his own quarter to eventually set up a ruck near Canterbury's line. With the ball spilling free, Cowan simply regathered the ball and powered across the line, Banks' conversion putting the home team ahead 17-6 at the break.
It was a remarkable scoreline considering Canterbury's dominance of both possession and territory. But it also highlighted Tasman's ability to attack from anywhere on the field.
Banks returned after the break to pepper the posts with a string of four penalty attempts, two of them in excess of 50m. He managed two of them as Tasman took a 23-6 lead heading into the final quarter.
By now the pressure was starting to show on Canterbury as the errors continued to mount. A superb defensive lineout steal by Squire 5m from Tasman's line highlighted the major momentum shift as Canterbury struggled to make an impact.
A fourth Banks penalty with nine minutes to go effectively put the match beyond Canterbury's reach as Tasman held on for an historic win.
AT A GLANCE
Tasman 26 (James Lowe, Jimmy Cowan tries, Marty Banks 4 pens, 2 cons) Canterbury 6 (Tom Taylor 2 pens) HT:17-6
