Tasman end Wellington's unbeaten run

Mitch Hunt again displayed his match-winning talents, steering the Tasman Makos to an exciting 37-35 Mitre 10 Cup win over previously-unbeaten Wellington at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim on Sunday afternoon.

Tasman appeared in serious danger of slumping to their second defeat against a championship team when Wellington led 28-13 shortly after halftime. But in a clutch finish, a converted Hunt try with just nine minutes remaining provided the late impetus for a thrilling home side win.

A late try to Wellington winger Losi Filipo with just minutes remaining heightened the tension, although Tasman bravely held on to complete a remarkable revival.

The Makos had already suffered at the hands of one championship team this season. It's not often that premiership teams start as underdogs against lower-tier opposition although, such has been Wellington's form this season, they've been justifiably heralded as one of the competition's pace setters.

They'd entered Sunday's contest averaging 38 points from wins over Manawatu, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay. But, despite outscoring Tasman five tries to four, it was the Makos' time to celebrate as they kept their playoff hopes well and truly alive.

Wellington suffered an early loss when skipper and No 8 Brad Shields departed with a leg injury after just nine minutes. But they stunned Tasman with two early length-of-the-field tries, prop Alex Fidow scoring the first following a turnover on Wellington's own line and fullback Ben Lam later backing up a superb break from his centre Wes Goosen for a handy 14-6 lead.

Wellington looked dangerous given width, their excellent support play and offloading often having Tasman scrambling in defence. Tasman still managed some of their best control of the season to apply much of the territorial pressure over the opening quarter.

The difference between the two teams in the first half was finishing, Wellington's execution more clinical in stark contrast to Tasman's unsuccessful efforts inside Wellington's red zone.  

Also significant was the impact of Wellington's tight five on attack, with all their big men making massive contributions to the team's continuity and strike power.

Tasman's persistence finally paid off though when loosehead prop Tim Perry crashed over after 13 phases to reduce Wellington's lead to just 14-13. However, Wellington struck again just before the break when big lock Sam Lousi scored after an attacking lineout for a 21-13 halftime lead.

It took Wellington just six minutes after the restart to score their bonus try when lock James Blackwell ambled across to pile even more pressure on the home team at 28-13.

Tasman worked desperately to stay in touch, fullback Will Jordan cleverly running off a Hunt offload for their second try. And when winger James Lowe latched on to a pinpoint Alex Nankivell grubber kick midway through the half, Tasman were suddenly back in touch at 28-27.

A penalty goal for a high tackle, followed by his heroic late try, boosted Hunt's match tally to 22 and saw the home team surge ahead 37-28, meaning not even Filipo's try with just minutes remaining was enough to deny Tasman a critical win.

Tasman's defence and composure improved markedly throughout the second half as Wellington, for once, failed to deliver as they slumped to their first defeat in five games.

Makos head coach Leon MacDonald was delighted to grab five points against such a dangerous opponent. "[Wellington] were a confident team after four wins, with plenty of ball players on a dry track ... we defended well for long periods, then we just turned off for half a second and they were off and a try was scored.

"A lot of [the problem] was around personal tackling, so it was a lot better effort in the second half. When we held possession and built phases we looked good too, so there were a lot of positives out of that game. To sneak home with a win was fantastic."

An area of concern in the Makos opening three encounters has been their tendency to fall away in the final quarter. However, this week they finished stronger, pleasing their coach.

"We asked a lot from our bench, saying they had to come on and add, and by and large they definitely did that. Pete Samu was good in the last 20, really got himself into the game, Ti'i Paulo in the tight too too. We won a couple of critical moments which we had previously been losing and there was desperation efforts on the loose ball which showed the guys were really hungry to bring it home. There were a lot of things to be proud of."

AT A GLANCE

Tasman 37 (Tim Perry, Will Jordan, James Lowe, Mitch Hunt tries, Hunt 4 con, 3 pen) Wellington 35 (Alex Fidow, Ben Lam, Sam Lousi, James Blackwell, Losi Filipo tries, Jackson Garden-Bachop 5 con) HT: 13-21.