Makos in the semi-final this Sunday!
Sunday’s 56 – 0 victory over Southland was the team’s largest ever winning margin, it secured third spot on the Premiership table and set up a semi-final match with Taranaki next Sunday in New Plymouth.
The semi-final is set for Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth on Sunday with kick off at 4.35pm.
Links:
Tasman set for semi-final against Taranaki
Makos enjoy big NPC win over Southland
Southland match day photos from Shuttersport
Tasman required a bonus point victory to leap frog from 6th on the Premiership ladder to 3rd. Three tries were on the board by half time and a further five tries in the second half did the job.
In the three seasons since gaining promotion to the Premiership, the Makos have enjoyed a position on the ladder as one of NZ’s top 3 provincial Unions. This is a fantastic achievement for one of the smaller and less resourced teams in the comp.
Quality rugby was played by all the team but once again skipper Shane Christie’s leadership and work rate was awesome. Everyone in the forward pack went about their business with purpose and dominated at set piece, with young second rower Pari Pari Parkinson shining in the line-outs on debut.
The return of wingers James Lowe and Vils Lolohea from injury has come at the right time and both capped good outings with a try.
Marty Banks was a late withdrawal for what would have been his last match in Nelson however young first fives Mitchell Hunt and his replacement Tim O’Malley, also on debut, ran the show well and kicked 8 from 8 conversions.
Tasman 56 (Pete Samu, Andrew Makalio, James Lowe, Viliami Lolohea, Jesse Macdonald, Alex Nankivell, Alex Ainley, Caleb Makene tries; Mitchell Hunt 5 con; Tim O'Malley 3 con) v Southland 0. HT: 21-0.
Tasman v North Harbour review
The previous Wednesday saw the Makos travel to Albany for a game that, if won, would keep the prospects of a home semi-final alive. North Harbour though are having a very good season and seem to always trouble Tasman. The same was true again with Harbour’s line speed creating trouble for the Makos backline throughout.
Two yellow cards and some interesting officiating from the touch line didn’t make the job any easier, however both team’s scored two tries and were right in it until the end. As it was, 5 inches of goal post were all that separated the team from a win as Marty Banks’ last minute 50 metre penalty attempt slammed into the upright and bounced back into the field of play.
Neither team really deserved to lose.
Tasman 27 (David Havili, Andrew Makalio, Shannon Frizell tries, Marty Banks 3 con, 2 pen) v North Harbour 27 (Matt McGahan, Matt Vaega, Adrian Smith tries, Bryn Gatland 3 con, 2 pen) HT: 13-13
Fins Up!
