Tasman steal last-gasp win over Waikato
Lock Alex Ainley lunges across for Tasman's match-winning try in their NPC clash with Waikato.
Experienced lock Alex Ainley turned match-winner after his last-gasp try helped Tasman to a tense 24-19 win over Waikato in their national provincial championship rugby clash at Blenheim's Lansdowne Park on Sunday.
With Tasman trailing 19-16 and time running out, the gnarly lock eventually lunged across after some fine build up to snatch the lead with six minutes remaining. And while No 10 Mitchell Hunt missed the conversion, his fourth penalty success from dead in front with time up sealed the win.
Their premiership contest brought down the curtain on week one of NPC action, with Tasman securing their fourth straight win over Waikato.
Tasman number 14 Tima Faingaanuku holds off an attempted tackle.
Tasman had opened the scoring through a fifth-minute penalty success to Hunt and were denied a try soon afterwards when No 8 Vern Fredericks was held up over the line.
Tasman's Ross Geldenhuys carries the ball forwards.
The effervescent Damian McKenzie attempted to spark something for Waikato with a couple of early half breaks, although it was a strong run by Waikato's Hurricanes midfielder Willis Halaholo that initiated the try-scoring action, Halaholo firing a long pass for left winger Jordan Trainor to cross out wide in the 32nd minute for a 10-3 lead.
Tasman threatened on occasions but were frustrated by handling lapses and were unable to build phases, leaving Hunt to add a further two penalties to give Waikato a 10-9 lead at the break.
Tasman's patience paid off directly after the break playing into a stiffening breeze as a steady build up inside Waikato's quarter and a final offload from centre Kieron Fonotia put halfback Finlay Christie across for Tasman's first try.
However, it was McKenzie's accurate right boot that enabled Waikato to initially draw level at 16-16 before taking their narrow lead to bring the match to its exciting conclusion.
Hame Faiva, Atu Moli, Jacob Skeen and James Tucker worked hard in Waikato's forward effort and Halaholo and Nathaniel Apa looked strong in midfield.
Halfback Christie was busy and constructive for Tasman with winger James Lowe and Fonotia also threatening. Ainley and Fredericks were the outstanding contributors to Tasman's forward effort.
Makos' head coach Leon MacDonald was chuffed to grab a first victory in his new role. "We will take that win any day," he said. "That's a pretty strong Waikato team so I am rapt to get the four points."
MacDonald felt the side's more experienced players stepped up in the final, decisive minutes. "A couple of long kicks from James Lowe relieved the pressure and I just felt that in those last five minutes we lifted up a gear and started to take control of the game.
"We played it at the right end of the ground, but before that we struggled to get things going. We just made silly errors and didn't get our game going at all."
However, with only a week's preparation after the Super Rugby players returned to the Makos ranks and six newcomers in the starting line-up, MacDonald was not surprised to see "some connection errors and some miscommunication", but said they were all "easy-fixes".
"I think the boys showed plenty of passion and hung in there, while the skipper [Shane Christie] led really well from the front and our defence was generally very good, with a lot of aggression and pressure at the breakdown."
Waikato defend the Ranfurly Shield against North Harbour in Hamilton next Saturday, while Tasman head to Christchurch to take on Canterbury.
Tasman 24 (Finlay Christie, Alex Ainley tries, Mitchell Hunt 4 pen, con) Waikato 19 (Jordan Trainor try, Damian McKenzie 4 pen, con) HT: 9-10
