Reigning champs bounce back to top table after beating BOP
By Robert van Royen [Stuff]
That’s more like it from the Tasman Mako.
Wing Leicester Fainga’anuku celebrated his 21st birthday by scoring two tries in the reigning champions' 33-7 bounce-back win against Bay of Plenty in Nelson on Sunday.
Their bonus-point victory shot them back to the top of the premiership standings with 20 points halfway through the regular season, one clear of Auckland and Waikato in a congested log.
Tasman, playing without tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax after the released All Black was called back into the national squad to replace Nepo Laulala (personal reasons), scored five tries to one in greasy conditions at Trafalgar Park.
EVAN BARNES/GETTY IMAGES
Fins up: Tasman winger Mark Telea celebrating a try against Bay of Plenty.
However, a week after North Harbour racked up 40 points and abruptly ended their 15-match unbeaten run, it was their defence which would have pleased coaches Andrew Goodman and Clarke Dermody most.
They weren't helped by worsening conditions, and a yellow card to wing Chase Tiatia early in the second half, after he recklessly took out Tasman lock Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta during a restart.
It followed Fainga'anuku’s second try - put on a plate by David Havili after halfback Finlay Christie took a quick-tap and dashed 20 metres – and was quickly followed by another hammer blow.
That was in the form of a bulldozing scrum against the feed five metres from Bay of Plenty's line, allowing flanker Sione Havili to secure the bonus point with 25 minutes to play.
Replacement prop Blair Prinsep, brother of Canterbury captain Reed, scored his first career try a few minutes from time, sliding over the line to further the visitors' woes.
The second half sure was a change from the first 40, when the hosts did little but rebuff raid after raid from the desperate Steamers.
While centre Regan Ware finally cracked the Mako after the halftime hooter to pull the visitors to within 12-7, they should have had more reward for all their dominance.
Particularly after a 13-phase passage ran into a red wall and came up short of the line in the 21st minute, before pivot Otere Black missed a penalty goal.
Fullback Kaleb Trask then took a Ware pass and went through a gaping hole, only for a poor pass to his support runners to blow yet another opportunity.
If that didn’t sting, Tasman wing Mark Telea’s 38th minute try certainly would have.
His 70-metre try can be credited to a thumping tackle by hooker Andrew Makalio, who clobbered Black and forced a loose ball for Alex Nankivell to pounce on and feed Telea.
It was the hosts' second try of the fixture, having started with a bang via Fainga’anuku, who dashed 45 metres down the left-hand flank after Fetuli Paea and David Havili offloads.
Tasman 33 (Leicester Fainga’anuku 2, Mark Telea, Sione Havili, Blair Prinsep tries; Mitch Hunt 4 con) Bay of Plenty 7 (Regan Ware try; Otere Black con). HT: 12-7
MVP points: Leicester Fainga’anuku 3, Sione Havili 2, Andrew Makalio 1
