2015 ITM CUP
Captain: Shane Christie
Coach: Kieran Keane
Asst. Coach: Leon MacDonald
Manager: Martyn Vercoe
Asst. Manager: Brett Thornalley
Hopes of going one better than last year’s Premiership ‘runners up’ were high with six consecutive wins, each with a bonus try-scoring point, before being run off the field by Auckland, Counties Manukau and Canterbury, with each team scoring two more tries than Tasman. The most surprising defeat was to Counties Manukau who chose to have their best game of the year that day.
The biggest difference in personnel between this year’s Tasman team and last year was the absence of their two, big strong and fast wingers, Bryce Heem and James Lowe. In only three of eleven matches did a wing score a try this year, and none after round six. Viliami Lolohea score three tries against North Harbour – but nothing else. Local product Mitchell Scott, who played Super Rugby for Western Force, was across the line three times in the first half of the season.
Centre Kieron Fonotia had his best season to date, leading the try scoring with five. We had been impressed with the debut season of David Havili at second five-eighth and he continues to impress. A season highlight was fullback Robbie Malneek becoming the first match centurion for Tasman. Although the youngest Union, Tasman is old enough to express nostalgia as they welcomed back former captain Andrew Goodman for a few minutes of playing time. Former Waikato and Otago utility back Trent Renata was able to add much value to his new team. Billy Guyton started most matches at halfback with Jimmy Cowan adding fire power from the bench.
The loose forwards Liam Squire, Shane Christie and Peter Samu contributed a dozen tries to te cause – mostly in the first half of the season. A natural but unheralded strength was to have a locking partnership from the champion Super Rugby team, the Highlanders – Joe Wheeler and Alex Ainly. Marco Kotze was an able replacement. Ross Geldenhuys, Siosiua Halanukonuka and Tim Perry provided the fron row power for most of the season before the late arrival of Kane Hames from injury. Long serving Quentin MacDonald continued to deliver excellence at hooker.
Tasman Makos 2015 ITM Cup draw.
  Home Game
|
|||||||
| 1 | Makos | VS | Waikato |
Hamilton | Fri 14 Aug, 7:35pm 2015 | W 35 - 20 |
|
| (Liam Squire, Shane Christie, Pete Samu, Jimmy Cowans tries, Marty Banks 3 cons, 3 pens) | |||||||
| 2 |
Makos | VS | Bay of Plenty |
Trafalgar Park, Nelson  |
Fri 21 Aug, 7:35pm 2015 | W 34 - 13 | |
| (Liam Squire, Mitchell Scott, Kieron Fonotia, Pete Samu tries, Banks 2 pens, 4 cons pens) | |||||||
| 3 |
Makos | VS | Manawatu | Lansdowne Park, Blenheim |
Thur 27 Aug, 7:35 2015 | W 41 - 21 |
|
| (Kayne Hammington, Semisi Masirewa tries, penalty try, Otere Black 3 cons) | |||||||
| 4 |
Makos | VS | Otago |
Dunedin | Fri 04 Sep, 7:35pm 2015 | W 34 - 17 | |
| (Billy Guyton, Mitchell Scott, Marco Kotze, Robbie Malneek tries, Marty Banks 2 pens, 4 cons) |
|||||||
| 5 |
Makos | VS | Wellington | Wellington | Fri 11 Sep, 7:35pm 2015 | W 36 - 17 |
|
| (Pete Samu, Marco Kotze, Kieron Fonotia, Shane Christie tries, Marty Banks 2 pens, 2 cons, David Havili 2 pens) |
|||||||
| 6 |
Makos | VS | North Harbour | Trafalgar Park, Nelson |
Wed 16 Sep, 7:35pm 2015 | W 39 - 20 |
|
| (Viliami Lolohea 3, Jimmy Cowan, Marty Banks, Mitchell Scott tries, Trent Renata 2 cons, Marty Banks 1 pen, 1 con) |
|||||||
| 7 |
Makos | VS | Auckland | Lansdowne Park, Blenheim |
Sun 20 Sep, 4:35pm 2015 | L 28 - 19 |
|
| (James Lowe 2, Robbie Malneek, Alex Ainley, Pete Samu tries; Marty Banks 4 con, 3 pen) | |||||||
| 8 |
Makos | VS | Counties Manukau |
Pukekohe | Sat 26 Sep, 2:35pm 2015 | L 42 - 33 |
|
| (Kieron Fonotia, Marty Banks, Billy Guyton tries, Marty Banks 2 cons, 2 pens, David Havili 2 pens, 1 con) | |||||||
| 9 |
Makos | VS | Canterbury |
Trafalgar Park, Nelson |
Sat 03 Oct, 2:35pm 2015 | L 42 - 33 |
|
| (Shane Christie 2, David Havili tries, Marty Banks 1 pen, 1 con, Havili 1 pen, Trent Renata 1 con) |
|||||||
| 10 | Makos | VS | Taranaki |
New Plymouth | Thur 8 Oct, 7:35pm 2015 | W 35 - 17 |
|
| (Quentin MacDonald, Vernon Fredericks, Liam Squire, Kieron Fonotia tries, David Havili 3 cons, 1 pen, Trent Renata 2 pens) | |||||||
| Semi-Final | |||||||
| 11 | Makos | VS | Auckland | Auckland | Fri 16 Oct, 2015 | L 44 - 24 |
|
| (Kieran Fonotia, Trent Renata, Alex Ainley tries, David Havili 1 pen, Marty Banks 3 cons) | |||||||
Played 11 - Won 7 - Lost 4 - Points for 355 - Points Against 280
2015 PLAYER RESULT
|
T |
C |
P |
TOTAL |
|
|
Marty Banks |
2 |
24 |
22 |
124 |
|
David Havili |
1 |
4 |
7 |
34 |
|
Keiron Fonotia |
5 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
|
Pete Samu |
5 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
|
Shane Christie |
4 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
|
Trent Renata |
1 |
3 |
2 |
17 |
|
Mitchell Scott |
3 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
Liam Squire |
3 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
Jimmy Cowan |
3 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
Viliami Lolohea |
3 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
Quentin MacDonald |
2 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
Billy Guyton |
2 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
Marco Kotze |
2 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
Robbie Malneek |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Alex Ainley |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Joe Wheeler |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Vernon Fredericks |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
355 |
