Mako lose to North Harbour 35-27
By Peter Jones [Marlborough App]
Tasman slumped to their second Bunnings NPC loss in a row at Albany this afternoon, going down 35-27 to hosts North Harbour.
The Mako will look back at a match where ill-discipline and an inability to mount lengthy periods of pressure cost them dearly.
They outscored their hosts four tries to two but were sunk by the unerring boot of Harbour first five Bryn Gatland, who landed seven penalties and two conversions for a personal haul of 25 points.
Aussie referee Damon Murphy played a merry tune on his whistle, both sides constantly inviting him into the game with indiscretions galore, especially at the breakdown.
More than 30 penalties turned the match into a stop-start affair which was always likely to be decided by the boot.
Tasman led 27-26 after 53 minutes before two Gatland penalty kicks pushed the home side back into a 32-27 lead with 10 to play.
Tasman had their chances to clinch a decisive try over the final period but were frustrated by their own inaccuracies and lack of composure.
The return of All Blacks Leicester Fainga’anuku and Sevu Reece gave the Mako an attacking boost, with the latter picking up two tries from fullback, but the game was decided in the tighter regions and it was fitting that Gatland had the final say, landing his seventh penalty in the 78th minute and denying Tasman a second bonus point.
Tasman scored some delightful tries, and the inevitable lineout drive touchdown to hooker Andrew Makalio. Hicks produced a clever knockback of a bouncing ball in the corner to set up Reece’s first five-pointer, while first five Campbell Parata, who had a mixed afternoon, cross kicked cleverly for the fullback’s second.
Halfback Noah Hotham continues to grow in this environment, but the option-taking outside him was a concern, with players tending to play conservatively rather than trusting their instincts, a Mako strength in the past.
Up front, Makalio, loosies Sione Talitui and Braden Stewart, plus props Luca Inch and Sam Matenga stood out in a much-improved set piece performance.
Senior Mako player Alex Nankivell said he could not fault the effort of the Tasman troops.
“We hung in there to the end but we were also ill-disciplined and made too many errors and you can’t do that against a side as dangerous as Harbour.
“We are putting the ref in a position where he’s making a call and we are not being clear enough with our pictures.”
If they were that way inclined, Tasman could point to a few setbacks that may have impacted their performance, such as the travel uncertainty, plus the loss of influential forwards Quinten Strange and Max Hicks to HIA protocol in the first half, the captain leaving the game a few minutes after kick-off.
However, they will no doubt put those factors aside and begin to regroup, albeit quickly, before meeting Canterbury in Blenheim on Friday in what is becoming a very testing and cut-throat national provincial battle.
North Harbour 35 (Kade Banks, Tevita Li tries, Bryn Gatland 7 pen, 2 con) defeated Tasman 27 (Sevu Reece 2, Andrew Makalio, Noah Hotham tries, Campbell Parata pen, 2 con). HT: 23-17 Harbour