2006 AIR NEW ZEALAND CUP
Coach: Dennis Brown
Asst. Coach: Bevan Cadwallader
Technical Director: Todd Blackadder
Manager: Terry Williamson
Asst. Manager: Brett Thornalley
Tasman Union was formed from the amalgation of Nelson Bays and Malborough unions with the specific intention of meeting the criteria for the new premier division of New Zealand rugby. It is planned to host games at both Blenheim and Nelson, but until Nelson’s Trafalgar Park is developped to meet NZRU standards, home games are being played at Blenheim.
There would be stern challengers for fledging Tasman, both on and off the field. How these were met would determine much of the future of domestic rugby in New Zealand. Over the years Nelson Bays and Marlnorouh has not demonstrated synergy on the rare occasions they had come together for an international match. The first challenge was in fact to be an international match where a comprehensive victory over Canada A gave cause for optimism. Further encouraging signs were to appear during the season: the highest score (56) by a team in an Air New Zealand Cup match; scoring third most points and third most tries in Pool A; the most tries by a player in a match; the ability to score more points in the second half of a match indicative of a team with a strong will.
The signs are encouraging. True, a lot of tries were conceded, but this was a by product of high risk adventurous rugby.
Fullback Robbie Malneek proved his ability at this level with speed and an elusive step on the way to scoring the first hat-trick of tries in the Air New Zealand Cup competition. Peter Playford from Sydney twice scored four tries in a match, not so much from pace, as for a keen eye, instinctive anticipation and continual involvement. There weren’t so many tries for Lucky Mulipola this year, but his devastating tackles made him no less valuable. Strong Aaron Kimura had a large physical presence in the backline and damaged average defence, but was sometimes exploited by more experienced combinations. English Sevens’ star Ben Collings showed glimpses of his slick running and passing skills early in the season. Hamstring problems dogged the latter part of his season. At halfback the defence of Kahn Fortuali’i gave him the edge over former Taranaki player James King.
In the forwards, number eight Corey Holdaway, who had been out of provincial rugby since 2002, had an outstanding season. A similar level of aggression was displayed by George Naoupu initially at lock but finishing the season at number eight. Openside flanker Jonathon Poff never tired of tackling. A surprise packet on the orther side of the scrum was Alex Ainley who led many advances. Former All Back Greg Feek was to be captain but early season injuries prevented a start with Tasman until the sixth match – by which time Ti’I Paulo had led the team so well, he just had to continue in that role. Ben May was a strong prop.
Little was seen of Tasman’s first All Blacks Rico Gear and Chris Jack.
 Home Game
|
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| 1 | Makos | VS | Canada A |
 Trafalgar Park, Nelson |
26 April, 2006 | W 48 - 8 |
|
| (Tries: Peter Playford (4), Ben May, Tim Taylor, James King, Sam Johnstone; Con (4): Tim Taylor) | |||||||
| 2 |
Makos | VS | North Harbour |
Blenheim |
30 July, 2006 | L 27 - 33 | |
| (Tries: Peter Playford, Tristan Moran, Kahn Fotuali’i; Con (3) & Pen (2): Ben Collings) | |||||||
| 3 |
Makos | VS | Auckland | Auckland |
06 Aug, 2006 | L 6 - 46 |
|
| (Tries: Peter Betham, Robbie Malneek, James Low, Jordan Taufua; Pen & Con (2): Andrew Goodman) | |||||||
| 4 |
Makos | VS | Manawatu |
Blenheim |
12 Aug, 2006 | W 43 - 0 | |
| (Tries: Robbie Malneek (3), Johnathon Poff, Ben Collings, Ti’i Paulo; Con (5) & Pen: Ben Collings) |
|||||||
| 5 |
Makos | VS | Taranaki |
Blenheim | 27 Aug, 2006 | L 15 - 22 |
|
| (Tries: Kahn Fotuali’i, Mark Bright; Con & Pen: Tim Taylor) |
|||||||
| 6 |
Makos | VS | Bay of Plenty |
Blenheim |
2 Sep, 2006 | L 17 - 23 |
|
| (Tries: Ben Collings, Aaron Kimura; Con: Aeron Kimura, Ben Collings; Pen: Tim Taylor) |
|||||||
| 7 |
Makos | VS | Wellington | Wellington |
10 Sep, 2006 | L 25 - 39 |
|
| (Tries: Cory Holdaway, James King, Peter Playford; Con (2) & Pen (2): Tim Taylor) | |||||||
| 8 |
Makos | VS | Southland |
Invercargill | 16 Sep, 2006 | L 14 - 23 |
|
| (Try: Robbie Malneek; Pen (3): Ben Collings) | |||||||
| 9 |
Makos | VS | Northland |
Blenheim |
23 Sep, 2006 | W 56 - 15 |
|
| (Tries: Peter Playford (4), Lucky Mulipola, Rico Gear, Johnathon Poff; Con (6) & Pen (3): Aaron Kimura) |
|||||||
| 10 | Makos | VS | Taranaki |
New Plymouth | 30 Sep, 2006 | L 17 - 42 |
|
| (Try: Hayden Cripps; Pen & Con: Tom Marshall) | |||||||
Played 10 I Won 3 I Drew 0 I Lost 7 I Points for 268 I Points Against 251
|
|
T |
C |
P |
DG |
TOTAL |
|
Ben Collings |
2 |
9 |
8 |
|
52 |
|
Peter Playford |
10 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
Aaron Kimura |
1 |
9 |
4 |
|
35 |
|
Tim Taylor |
1 |
7 |
4 |
|
31 |
|
Robbie Malneek |
4 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
Kahn Fortuali’i |
2 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Rico Gear |
2 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
James King |
2 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Lucky Mulipola |
2 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Johnathon Poff |
2 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Mark Bright |
1 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Cory Holdaway |
1 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Sam Johnstone |
1 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Ben May |
1 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Tristan Moran |
1 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Ti’i Paulo |
1 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
36 |
25 |
16 |
0 |
268 |
