Marty Banks' boot gets Makos home over Counties 15 - 10
Marty Banks' boot proved a match winner for Tasman over Counties.
It may not have been Marty Banks' best night with the boot, but his five penalty goals were enough to guide the Tasman Makos to a 15-10 win over Counties Manukau at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim on Thursday night.
Counties looked the more dangerous team in the Mitre 10 Cup match for much of the second half, but were unable to take advantage - Banks scoring the only points of the second 40, a 35 metre penalty goal in the 70th minute.
His side produced some heroic defence as the visitors pressed the Tasman line in the final minutes, before a turnover ended the game and gave the Makos their fifth win of the competition, keeping them well in the hunt for a semi-final position.
The majority of the points were scored in the first half, while the second became a war of attrition.
Four Banks penalties gave Tasman a narrow edge and a 12-10 lead after 40 minutes, although the visitors showed their attacking prowess with the only try of the match, a well-executed effort by skipper Jimmy Tupou.
The Makos appeared to have more structure and shared territory and possession with their hard-running rivals. Both sides kicked often in a bid to play the game in their opponents' half, with Banks and Tasman's back three winning most of the kicking battles.
Counties Manukau halfback Augustine Pulu was yellow-carded with nine minutes to play in the half, but the Makos were unable to take advantage of their numerical advantage.
The first 20 minutes of the second half certainly belonged to Counties who exerted most of the pressure with some powerful ball running from the likes of loose forward Jordan Taufua and centre Sam Vaka. That led to several penalty goal opportunities which were turned down by the visitors as they opted instead to push for a second try. However, a combination of dogged defence from the Makos and errors from the Steelers meant there was no alteration to the 12-10 lead Tasman carried into the second stanza.
Rather, it was the boot of Banks which eventually turned the scoreboard over once again. The inspirational first-five landing the only points of the second half to help see Tasman to victory.
Next up for Tasman is another northern side, Auckland, at Eden Park on Thursday. Counties Manukau play championship high-flyers Otago on Saturday evening in Dunedin.
Tasman 15 (Marty Banks 5 pen) v Counties Manukau 10 (Jimmy Tupou try, Piers Francis pen, con) HT Tasman 12-10.
