Mako grind out win over Stags
By Peter Jones [Marlborough App]
The Tasman Mako held on against a resurgent Southland Stags to start their Bunnings NPC campaign with a 27-20 win at Lansdowne Park tonight.
After leading by 17 points at the end of in the first half, the Mako were unable to add to their total in the second 40 as Southland fought back.
Southland started the scoring from the boot of former-Mako Marty Banks before play started to swing the home side’s way.
Flanker Max Hicks scored the first try of the game, with fullback Taine Robinson giving him an easy pathway to the line after slicing through the defence with a dummy and drawing in the cover defence.
Southland stayed in touch, capitalising on messy ball after Tasman effected a turnover but lost the ball at the back of the ruck, gifting Southland centre Isaac Te Tamaki an easy run to the line.
However, the remainder of the half was all Mako as they lifted their game and began to dominate possession.
Two Parata penalties lifted them to a 13-10 lead before halfback Noah Hotham bagged their second try, running a supporting line for a rampaging Levi Aumua who broke through a handful of tackles.
The home side’s third try was spectacular, a Parata grubber kick to the sideline being juggled several times by winger Macca Springer before he gained control to slice over in the corner. Again Parata’s boot was true, handing Tasman a 27-10 advantage at oranges.
After the break Southland team came out with a vigour that belied their efforts to get to Blenheim for the match, which was delayed by four and a half hours.
They drove to Christchurch before their flight to Wellington was diverted to Palmerston North, then bussing to Wellington before driving back to the Kapiti Coast to catch a charter flight to Blenheim.
The second half was almost one-way traffic; with the southerly wind kicking in at the Stags’ backs, enabling them to keep Tasman camped in their own half for much of the spell.
A try to Nelson College old boy Grayson Knapp, and a Banks conversion closed the gap to 27-17 after just eight minutes, then when Banks added a second penalty midway through the half it was game on.
It seemed the Mako had scored a breakaway try to put the issue beyond doubt in the final minutes, but it was called back for offside, leaving the home fans on the edge of their seats over the final stages.
However, some staunch defensive work, coupled with a few handling issues from the Stags, allowed the home side to get off to a winning start, albeit far from their best work.
Scores: Tasman 27 (Max Hicks, Noah Hotham, Macca Springer tries, Campbell Parata 3 con, 2 pen) Southland 20 (Grayson Knapp, Isaac Te Tamaki tries, Marty Banks 2 pen, 2 con). HT: 27-10