Makos overcome BOP Steamers to secure bonus point win
It was hard work, but the Tasman Makos have fended off a strong challenge from Bay of Plenty to secure a scrappy 34-13 bonus point national provincial championship rugby win at Trafalgar Park in Nelson on Friday.
Tasman didn't secure their bonus point until the final minute when flanker Pete Samu scored out wide to end a hard-fought contest.
The home sides impressive early ball movement was rewarded with an excellent try to No 8 Liam Squire, the big loosie receiving an inside pass from first five-eighth Marty Banks after 13 phases to put the home team ahead 7-0 after seven minutes.
No 8 Liam Squire barges over for the Tasman Makos first try during their win over Bay of Plenty at Trafalgar Park.
But the match took a controversial turn just minutes later when Tasman prop Ross Geldenhuys was shown a yellow card by referee Nick Briant for stomping.
Nick Evemy's resulting penalty reduced the margin to 7-3, the incident highlighting the niggly early nature of the contest with plenty of pushing and shoving between the players.
Bay of Plenty tried to make the most of their numeric advantage by moving the ball, but Tasman's defence matched up with some impressive line speed. Interestingly, Geldenhuys paid for his indiscipline by heading straight to the bench following his 10-minute spell.
Tasman appeared to squander a number of opportunities near the line, Bay of Plenty defending several strong Tasman forward surges.
But with Tasman's scrum in dominant form, it was from an attacking scrum three minutes before halftime - and with the help of a superb long pass from centre Kieron Fonotia - that winger Mitchell Scott eventually sneaked in at the corner.
Banks' superb sideline conversion sent Tasman to the break 14-3 ahead.
The Makos No 10 added a gift three points directly after the restart to increase the margin to 17-3, but Bay of Plenty surged right back into contention five minutes later when flanker Zak Hohneck scored after some solid build up and loose Tasman defence to close the gap at 17-10.
The try signalled something of a momentum shift and with Bay of Plenty's strong work at the breakdowns, Tasman's defence started to feel the pressure
Still, Tasman's scrum continued to dominate, earning Banks a chance to land his second penalty for a 20-10 lead.
The visitors refused to lie down, with a couple of line-breaks and loose Tasman handling keeping the visitors well in the contest.
Bay of Plenty's substitute first five-eighth Dan Hollinshead intensified the pressure when his first attempt at goal again reduced the margin to 20-13, but it was finally eased by Fonotia when he crashed over beside the posts to provide some security at 27-13.
Tasman sealed the win with Samu's spectacular 40m try in the game's final act, Banks again nailing the sideline conversion.
Tasman 34 (Liam Squire, Mitchell Scott, Kieran Fonotia, Pete Samu tries; Marty Banks 2 pen, 3 con) Bay of Plenty 13 (Zac Hohneck try; Nick Evemy pen, con, Dan Hollinshead pen). HT: 14-3.
