2021 BUNNINGS WAREHOUSE NPC PREMIERSHIP – THE RUGBY CUP
Captain: Mitch Hunt, Quinten Strange
Co-Head Coaches: Andrew Goodman
Asst. Coaches: Shane Christie, Gray Cornelius, Daniel Perrin, James Marshall
Manager: Stu Hunter
The Tasman Mako can be pleased with their season after overcoming much adversity to again contest the Premiership final.
They will be disappointed that they failed to defeat Waikato to win their third straight title but when you consider the number of injuries they had to overcome and the absence of no less than seven All Blacks, it was a worthy effort by Andrew Goodman’s charges.
It looked like business as usual after the opening two games, clinical against Bay of Plenty and solid enough against Auckland. But there were three spring reverses, against Waikato, Hawke’s Bay for the Ranfurly Shield and Canterbury, which brought their title credentials into question. Qualifying fourth, they gutsed out a semifinal victory over the Magpies in Napier where they could give thanks to a late, crucial, Levi Aumua turnover and another bullocking display by centre Leicester Faingaanuku, the side’s best player in 2021. Tellingly, he saw little space in the final, in which the Mako were just slightly off the pace.
The big loss from 2020 was David Havili, who was in the All Blacks, but Finlay Christie’s promotion was also felt.
Aumua was back from Japan, as was Mako veteran Tom Marshall, though only for four games. Atu Moli and Paripari Parkinson both returned from injury, but then found themselves again injured at inopportune moments. Alex Ainley and Kieron Fonotia had retired, Tima Faingaanuku transferred to Manawatu, Kershawl Sykes-Martin broke his leg in the non-first-class pre-season clash with the NZ Under 20s, and Isaac Ross was in the USA.
Olympic sevens silver medallist Andrew Knewstubb, loaned from Horowhenua Kapiti, proved an able replacement at the back for Marshall.
Mark Telea was injured after just three games, but young Macca Springer showed plenty of promise on the flanks. Rookie flier Timoci Tavatavanawai showed real dash on the right wing and was sound under the high ball, the only Mako back to appear in all 11 games. Sevens specialist Regan Ware also added value later in the season,and scored a try in the final.
Faingaanuku played four games at centre and six on the left wing but was the toughest back to stop in the entire NPC on his way to eight tries.
Aumua was strong at centre or off the bench when Faingaanuku was on the wing, while Alex Nankivell was beset by injury earlier in the season. Tim O’Malley did the job at 12 until he left early for Japan. The versatile Willy Havili, brother of David, impressed enough to win a Moana Pasifika contract.
Co-captain Mitch Hunt again played well, scoring 123 points, though with not the authority of 2019 and 2020.
Louie Chapman emerged as the best halfback, and improved each week, while Jack Grooby was solid, though later usurped by the promising Noah Hotham.
In the forwards, injury put paid to Taina Fox-Matamua’s season, and robbed Sione Havili of all but three games. Shannon Frizell was effective in his four games, but the Mako rotated four fine loose forwards in Hugh Renton, Anton Segner, Jacob Norris, who cracked the Maori All Blacks, and Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta.
Co-captain Quin Strange led from the front, passing the 50 games for his blazer, while Max Hicks emerged as a second rower of real potential, picked up by the Highlanders.
Tyrel Lomax only played the first game, so Sam Matenga nailed down the tighthead position with some powerful scrummaging displays, Isaac Salmon offering support off the bench. Isis Tu’ungafasi was again the rock at loosehead.
From late September, Andrew Makalio was back at hooker playing like had had never been away, but he had strong competition from Quentin MacDonald, who deservedly raised the ton of matches for the Mako and scored five tries from the trademark lineout drives.
Higher honours went to:
New Zealand: Shannon Frizell, Tyrel Lomax, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder, David Havili, Finlay Christie
New Zealand Maori: Jacob Norris
Tonga: Sam Moli
[Source: 2022 Rugby Almanack]
Results and Scorers
Game 1 [W] | Sun 8th August, 2:05pm | vs Bay of Plenty | Tauranga
Bay of Plenty 14 (Tries: Sean Wainui, Luke Campbell | Conversions: Kaleb Trask x 2)
Tasman 27 (Tries: Quentin MacDonald x 2, Tim O’Malley | Conversions: Mitch Hunt x 3 | Penalties: Mitch Hunt x 3)
Game 2 [W] | Sat 14th August, 2:05pm | vs Auckland | Nelson
Tasman 16 (Tries: Leicester Fainga’anuku | Conversions: Mitch Hunt | Penalties: Mitch Hunt x 3)
Auckland 11 (Tries: Salesi Rayasi | Penalties: Harry Plummer x 2)
Game 3 [W] | Sat 18th September, 4:35pm | vs Northland | Whangarei
Northland 29 (Tries: Sam Nock, Scott Gregory, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Jordan Olsen, Raikabui Momoedonu | Conversions: Rivez Reihana, Noah Cooper)
Tasman 48 (Tries: Mark Telea x2, Leicester Fainga’anuku x 2, Jacob Norris, Shannon Frizell, Mitch Hunt, Timoci Tavatavanawai | Conversions: Mitch Hunt x 4)
Game 4 [L] | Fri 24th September, 7:05pm | vs Waikato | Nelson
Tasman 22 (Tries: Shannon Frizell, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Andrew Makalio | Conversions: Mitch Hunt x 2, | Penalties: Mitchell Hunt)
Waikato 39 (Tries: Liam Coombes-Fabling x 2, Cortez Ratima, Gideon Wrampling, Matthew Lansdown | Conversions: Fletcher Smith x 4 | Penalties: Fletcher Smith x 2)
Game 5 [W] | Sat 3rd October, 2:05pm | vs Southland | Blenheim
Tasman 51 (Tries: Leicester Fainga’anuku x 2, Timoci Tavatavanawai x 2, Macca Springer, Levi Aumua | Conversions: Mitch Hunt x 5, | Penalties: Mitchell Hunt x 2)
Southland 14 (Tries: Marty Banks, Solomon Alaimalo | Conversions: Marty Banks x 2)
Game 6 [L] | Sat 9th October, 4:35pm | vs Hawkes Bay | Napier (Ranfurly Shield challenge)
Hawkes Bay 34 (Tries: Eretara Enari, Brendon McConnor, Lolagi Visinia, Stacey lli, Neria Fomai | Conversions: Lincoln McClutchie x 3 | Penalties: Tiaan Falcon)
Tasman 22 (Tries: Shannon Frizell | Conversions: Mitch Hunt, Penalties: Mitch Hunt x 5)
Game 7 [W] | Sun 17th October, 4:35pm | vs Bay of Plenty | Nelson (Non-competition game)
Tasman 26 (Tries: Timoci Tavatavanawai, Andrew Knewstubb, Quentin McDonald | Conversions: Campbell Morgan-Parata | Penalties: Morgan Campbell-Parata x 3)
Bay of Plenty (Penalties: Te Aihe Toma x 3)
Game 8 [L] | Fri 29th October, 7:05pm | vs Canterbury | Christchurch
Canterbury 24 (Tries: Fergus Burke, Luke Romano, Dallas McLeod | Conversions: Fergus Burke x 3 | Penalties: Fergus Burke)
Tasman 20 (Tries: Quentin McDonald | Penalties: Mitch Hunt x 5)
Game 9 [W] | Sat 6th November, 2:05pm | vs Wellington | Blenheim
Tasman 34 (Tries: Quentin McDonald, Jacob Norris, Anton Segner, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Levi Aumua | Conversions: Mitch Hunt x 3 | Penalties: Mitch Hunt)
Auckland 22 (Tries: Tyrone Thompson, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Taine Plumtree | Conversions: Aidan Morgan x 2 |Penalties: Aidan Morgan)
Game 10 [W] | Sat 13th November, 2:05pm | vs Hawkes Bay | Napier (Semi-Final)
Hawkes Bay 27 (Tries: Jonah Lowe, Tom Parsons, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Geoff Cridge | Conversions: Lincoln McClutchie x 2 | Penalties: Lincoln McClutchie)
Tasman 33 (Tries: Andrew Makalio, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Timco Tavatavanawai, Andrew Knewstubb | Conversions: Mitch Hunt x 2 | Penalties: Mitch Hunt x 3)
Game 11 [L] | Sat 20th November, 7:05pm | vs Waikato | Hamilton (Final)
Waikato 23 (Tries: Bailyn Sullivan x 2 | Conversions: D’Angelo Leuila x 2 | Penalties: D’Angelo Leuila x 2, Fletcher Smith)
Tasman 20 (Tries: Quinten Strange, Regan Ware | Conversions: Mitch Hunt x 2| Penalties: Mitch Hunt x 2)
Played 11 I Won 7 I Lost 4 I Drew 0 I Points for 319 I Points Against 246
| Tries | Con | Pen | Total | |||
| 1 | Mitchell Hunt | 1 | 23 | 24 | 123 | |
| 2 | Leicester Fainga'anuku | 8 | 40 | |||
| 3 | Quentin MacDonald | 5 | 25 | |||
| 4 | Timoci Tavatavanawai | 5 | 25 | |||
| 5 | Shannon Frizell | 3 | 15 | |||
| 6 | Campbell Morgan-Parata | 1 | 3 | 11 | ||
| 7 | Andrew Makalio | 2 | 10 | |||
| 8 | Jacob Norris | 2 | 10 | |||
| 9 | Levi Aumua | 2 | 10 | |||
| 10 | Andrew Knewstubb | 2 | 10 | |||
| 11 | Mark Telea | 2 | 10 | |||
| 12 | Regan Ware | 2 | 10 | |||
| 13 | Quinten Strange | 1 | 5 | |||
| 14 | Anton Segner | 1 | 5 | |||
| 15 | Tim O’Malley | 1 | 5 | |||
| 16 | Macca Springer | 1 | 5 | |||
