Tasman High Performance XV secure first up win v Counties
The Tasman Makos High Performance XV have passed their first test of the season after a gratifying 29-22 win over the Counties-Manukau Cavaliers in their pre-season clash in Papakura on Wednesday.
The team was affected by Auckland's big wet, with their plane having to circle the airport for about 30 minutes before getting clearance to land and giving the players only 40 minutes to warm up prior to the match.
Still, the players responded well, with Tasman's head coach Leon MacDonald particularly impressed with his players' attitude in trying conditions.
"We were very physical which is something that we've been driving really hard at training," MacDonald said.
"We were physical in the tackle and put a lot of pressure on them with our line speed. And we got a lot of reward at the breakdown when we put a lot of effort into making a menace of ourselves and making quite a few turnovers there. So definitely the attitude was fantastic."
MacDonald's main area of concern lay with the players' adjustment to the new laws.
"We got pinged a lot leaving our feet at the breakdown and even though we got some success there, we've still got a little bit of work to do there. And given the wet conditions, we were quite loose with the ball early on and turned a lot of ball over in the tackle trying to offload."
Tasman's forwards were effective in the set phases and worked hard at the breakdowns to give their backs front foot ball.
It resulted in three first half tries to No 8 Te Ariki Ben-Nicholas, midfielder Alex Nankivell and winger Richard Kingi to give them a handy 17-3 lead at the break. A try to Mike Wells shortly after the restart pushed them out further to 24-5 before two tries to the home team cut the lead back to 24-15.
Loose forward Ethan Blackadder scored Tasman's fifth and final try ahead of a late Cavaliers intercept to complete the scoring.
"The majority of them showed in this game that they're capable of playing at the next level. They require just a bit more development, but they're definitely going to get there."
Players to impress were loose forward and skipper Vern Fredericks, who led outstandingly from the front, prop Tom Hill and lock Shannon Frizell.
"Tom Hill had a great game up front, he scrummaged really well and got around the park and did a lot of hard work. And Shannon was brilliant really in the wet conditions, his taking the ball above his head at lineout and kickoff time was outstanding."
Halfbacks Curtis Pedersen-Line and Shawn Begg both also seized their opportunities with strong games, while Tim O'Malley showed excellent control at No 10.
Wednesday's match was the first of three pre-season games for the Makos' wider squad before the national provincial championship squad is announced for the first regular season match against Waikato in Blenheim on August 21.
The Makos HP squad will meet a Wellington HP XV on August 3 in Wellington, then a Manawatu HP XV on August 12 in Nelson.
Tasman Makos HP 29 (Te Ariki Ben-Nicholas, Alex Nankivell, Richard Kingi, Mike Wells, Ethan Blackadder tries, Tim O'Malley 2 con) Counties-Manukau Cavaliers 22. HT: 17-5.
