Mako women overwhelm North Harbour

By Peter Jones [Marlborough App]

The Tasman Mako women’s team have racked up back to back wins in the Farah Palmer Cup competition, downing North Harbour 42-15 at Lansdowne Park today.

It was a complete, seven-try, performance from the home side, combining well-organised and patterned attack with relentless defence, their handling and intensity a step up on their northern rivals.

Tasman, no doubt buoyed by their previous week’s win over Taranaki, began with a hiss and a roar.

Within seven minutes they had put two tries on the board, one converted by first five Cassie Siataga, who also added a penalty to give the home side a 13-0 advantage.

However, their increased confidence with ball in hand proved costly five minutes later when Harbour winger Ava-Lee Jericevich intercepted a floated pass 40m out and sprinted away to put the visitors on the board.

This merely sparked the home side into action, tighthead prop Tita Lupeituu proving unstoppable from close range, Siataga’s conversion shooting the Mako out to a handy 20-5 lead midway through the half.

They were not finished there either, two superbly-judged 50/22 kicks by Siataga setting up field position from which they fashioned a second try to loosie Sui Pauaraisa, handing the home side an early bonus point and 25-5 halftime lead.

The Hibiscus, with the sun and breeze at their backs, came out with more purpose after oranges. However resolute home town defence, led by No 8 Tahlia Brody, halfback Hannah Kelly, midfielder Jamie Paenga and Pauaraisa left them pressurised and frustrated.

Eventually they settled for a close range penalty to former Mako Hayley Hutana, a tribute to Tasman’s relentless defence.

That three points was soon eclipsed as Tasman swept onto attack through a Brody break, a simple back move creating a try for winger Michelle Miller-Leef. Siataga’s conversion allowed the home side a 32-8 lead.

Within minutes Harbour replacement Talei Kidd replied with a solo effort, before powerhouse Mako replacement prop Ona Palu brought the crowd alive with a storming 25m run which ended with Tasman’s sixth try, establishing a 37-15 lead.

They added another before fulltime, a thoroughly-deserved effort by No 8 Brody, underlining Tasman’s improvement and superiority.

Tasman 42 (Sui Pauaraisa 2, Tita Lupeituu, Brooklyn Logan, Michelle Miller-Leef, Ona Palu, Tahlia Brody tries, Cassie Siataga pen, 2 con) North Harbour 15 (Talei Kidd, Ava-Lee Jericevich tries, Hayley Hutana con, pen). HT: 25-5