Mako men happy at home

when we had the ball we looked after it and our breakdown was good.

Back-to-back home wins have provided the Tasman Mako men’s side with an ideal springboard into their NPC premiership campaign.

After a scratchy first-up victory over Otago in Nelson, the Mako upped the ante against a stronger opponent, claiming a 24-12 bonus point victory over Auckland at Lansdowne Park on Saturday night.

The visitors travelled south with a powerful side, stacked with Super Rugby players and former All Blacks, but left empty-handed.

Tasman captain Quinten Strange was chuffed to grab maximum points.

“The boys spoke around starting well … we had a real edge this week around wanting to play well for the Blenheim fans and I thought we did that.

Acknowledging their effort in keeping Auckland scoreless in the first 40, Quinten said, “We didn’t set out to keep them scoreless or anything like that, we just wanted to work hard for each other …

“In the second half we didn’t execute as well and let them back into the game, but overall it was pleasing.”

He suggested Saturday’s effort was a step-up from the previous week’s display, but felt there was plenty of room for improvement.

“The intensity in the first 20 was up there, our carry/clean was really good … but there are still areas of growth which is exciting for us as a team and us as a region.”

Tasman’s effort was kick-started by imposing centre Levi Aumua who rampaged through a series of Auckland tacklers in the fourth minute for the home side’s first points.

Aumua, and midfield partner Alex Nankivell, provided a pivotal point of difference for the Mako, despite coming up against seasoned campaigners Harry Plummer and Bryce Heem. Their hard, straight running provided much-needed momentum and breakdown targets from where Tasman could go to work.

The home side’s second try came on the back of a Nankivell break, hard-working Kahurangi loosie Tim Sail picking up his first Mako try after a lengthy video review, then first five Taine Robinson profited from a loose pass in the Mako midfield to surge over on the half hour mark.

Conversions of both his try and Sail’s effort allowed the home side to head for the dressing room at halftime with a handy 19-0 halftime lead.

However, a team of Auck land’s quality were not going to be scoreless for long, and they were on the board after 50 minutes, replacement winger Salesi Rayasi strolling over after a lengthy miss out pass outwitted Tasman’s wide defenders.

Despite both sides displaying inventiveness and attacking aspirations, the middle part of the second spell turned into a war of attrition, well-organised and committed defence holding

Tasman to add to their tally and snare a valuable bonus point try, replacement hooker Quentin MacDonald plunging over after a 15m lineout drive. Robinson narrowly missed the conversion but the home side held a 17-point lead which Auckland could not bridge despite picking up a second try to Rayasi late in the piece.

Another positive from Saturday’s game was the growth of players relatively new to the environment, such as Robinson, Sail and hooker Feleti Kaitu’u, coupled with the efforts of such stalwarts as Pari Pari Parkinson, Strange, MacDonald and the midfield maestros.

On Saturday, Tasman venture away from home to take on Northland in Whangarei and, although satisfied with banking nine points from their opening encounters, will be wary of a Taniwha side capable of beating any other side in the competition on their day.

Saturday night’s scores: Tasman 24 (Levi Aumua, Tim Sail, Taine Robinson, Quentin MacDonald tries, Robinson 2 con) Auckland