Mako maul Manawatu in Marlborough

Mako maul Manawatu in Marlborough

The Tasman Mako continue to set the pace in the Mitre 10 Cup after another dominant victory in Blenheim this afternoon.

The Mako scored ten tries in none in a resounding 64-3 win.

Liam Squire and Shannon Frizell did their chances of a flight to Japan no harm after superb performances in a dominant pack while the electric Jamie Spowart benefited from plenty of front foot possession with a trifecta of tries on the wing.

Squire opened the scoring for Tasman on the back of a powerful rolling maul. 

Tasman created and butchered no less than four opportunities in search of a second and it took almost twenty minutes to come as Hugh Roach rumbled over for his first try in Mako colours. 

A third soon followed as Jordan Taufua went in following a slick line-out move while Alex Nankivell was assisted from the field making way for debutant Fetuli Paea. 

The Mako were enjoying a wealth of possession and territory as Tima Faiganuuku split the Turbos defence sending Finlay Christie away to score the bonus point. 

The hosts weren’t done yet as a fortuitous fifth followed when Jamie Spowart finished off a brilliant movement sparked by Will Jordan from the back.

Replays showed Jordan was offside before regathering Mitch Hunt’s chip ahead, but the try stood as Tasman took a 33-3 halftime lead. 

After a sloppy start to the second half Tasman went in again through flanker Jacob Norris.

Despite a number of changes Tasman rediscovered its form on attack as Jordan waltzed over for a well-deserved try.  

Ethan Blackadder then brought up the half-century before Spowart scored the try of the match, skinning the cover as the Mako broke out from inside its own 22. 

The hosts ran riot in the final minutes, eating metres at will as Spowart found himself unmarked on the right flank for his hat-trick.

The win sees the Mako sitting pretty at the top of the premiership table with three wins from three and six points clear of defending champions Auckland who meet the in form Bay of Plenty later today.

Scorers:

Tasman 64 (Jamie Spowart 3, Liam Squire, Hugh Roach, Jordan Taufua, Finlay Christie, Jacob Norris, Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder tries, Mitch Hunt 4 cons, Tim O’Malley 3 cons) defeated Manawatu 3 (Otere Black pen)