Tasman Makos score capital KO 36 - 17

It was billed as a battle of rugby's national provincial championship heavyweights.

If that was the case, then the Tasman Makos won by knockout over the Wellington Lions on Friday night in the capital.

The sides came into the bout with similar records, unbeaten and having scored exactly the same number of points from their first four encounters. The home side was a clear favourite at the TAB, the Makos unimpressive in their previous outing.

By the time the final bell went the Lions were on the canvas, Tasman victorious by 36 points to 17 and unlikely to be afforded second favouritism again this season.

There has been plenty of debate over whether the Makos are the force they were last season. After Friday night there seems little doubt they are. They may have lost a trio of outstanding outside backs, but the pieces are beginning to fall into place out wide. Marty Banks is recapturing the imperious form he showed in 2014, David Havili is becoming a hugely influential player in midfield and the Billy Guyton/Jimmy Cowan double act at halfback is working superbly.

Up front the pack put in a much more professional effort. They passed their biggest test to date with flying colours, their lineout accurate, their scrum steady and ultimately dominant. The big men's clean out work was up a level from previous matches and their defensive starch and aggression returned.

Squire, Samu and Christie were again outstanding, eventually shading their highly-rated opposites Brad Shields, Vaea Fifita and Ardie Savea. Their efforts came on the back of the tight five's toil, prop Tim Perry and lock Alex Ainley outstanding both in the tight and loose.

Early indications suggested an arm wrestle. Somehow Tasman led 6-5 at halftime, despite their rivals comprehensively dominating territory and possession. The Makos were forced to make 82 tackles to the Lions' 30 but the most telling statistic was the turnover count, Tasman ahead 18-9, a figure they would stretch to 31-16 by the end. A feature of the night was the willingness of all the Makos defensive players to attack the ball at the breakdown and press hard on defence, setting up the lop-sided turnover count.

Also worthy of note was the goalkicking. Wellington first five-eighth Jonny Bentley had an off night, landing one from five while Banks and David Havili kicked superbly from the tee, slotting six from seven, including two Havili specials from long distance.

The Lions began the second spell with intent, a Jackson Garden-Bachop try after five minutes giving them a 12-6 lead, before Tasman cut loose, scoring 30 unanswered points.

Their revival began with a multi-phase try involving almost all the team. At one stage they coughed up possession, only to regain it and force their way over the advantage line. Banks slipped a pass to flanker Pete Samu who shrugged his way through a tired defence to score his fifth of the season.

Like a solid body shot this seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Lions. A Havili penalty from 45m was quickly followed by a well-executed Kieron Fonotia try, created by Banks, fullback Robbie Malneek and loosie Liam Squire.    

Havili landed his second penalty before Marco Kotze, who replaced Joe Wheeler soon after the break, scored the next. The hard-working lock was on hand to force his way over after hooker Quentin MacDonald had been put clear on the left by a clever Mitchell Scott pass.

Four minutes before fulltime the Makos had their fourth, and bonus point, try when skipper Shane Christie got on the back of an irresistible lineout drive.

As they have done in all of their five matches so far, Tasman settled for four tries, gifting Wellington an overtime touchdown when they failed to clear to touch after the hooter had gone.

Wellington may be a championship team but they have tipped over champions Taranaki this season and fancied their chances of landing a Mako, especially after dominating their pre-season encounter.

But it wasn't to be as the premiership contenders flexed their muscles, then landed the body blows that brought an end to the contest.

Now the Makos face their busiest week of the season, tackling North Harbour on Wednesday in Nelson, then Auckland in Blenheim on Sunday.

The smiles on the faces of the victors on Friday night suggest they can't wait.

Scorers: Tasman 36 (Pete Samu, Marco Kotze, Kieron Fonotia, Shane Christie tries, Marty Banks 2 pen, 2 con, David Havili 2 pen) v Wellington 17 (Frae Wilson, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Wes Goosen tries, Jonny Bentley con). Ht 6-5 Tasman.