Tasman make a strong statement
Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:13
The Tasman Makos sent a strong message to the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) brainstrust when they beat Taranaki 33-23 in their Air New Zealand Cup Round Three match at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, on Sunday.
The NZRU earned themselves the ire of both Tasman and Northland last week when they announced that these two teams have been earmarked for culling when the country's premier domestic competition gets reduced from 14 to 12 teams next year.
While Northland let the hierarchy know how displeased they are by threatening legal action, Tasman decided to make their statement on the playing field.
Tasman, in beating the highly rated Taranaki outfit, came back from trailing 10-20 early in the second half to score three tries to two. Add to that the 18-point haul from goal-kicker Miah Nikora, which ensured Taranaki paid dearly for any ill discipline.
It was a scrappy affair, particularly in the first half when the two sides conspired to commit 20 handling errors between them as the game lost its shape for long periods.
Taranaki had their noses in front 13-10 at the break, after the teams traded one try apiece, with the goal-kicking of Taranaki first five-eighth (No.10) Willie Ripia proving the difference.
He kicked two penalties and converted a sixth-minute try from fullback Asalemo Malo, who gathered in a kick ahead from lock Jason Eaton near the left-hand touchline and dotted down.
Tasman responded with their own try 12 minutes later when a forward pass from Taranaki No.8 Taiasina Tuifua gifted the home team a scrum feed just short of the line.
Tasman moved the ball to the right where left wing Steve Sasagi joined the backline and stepped off his right foot to beat the defence.
Taranaki enjoyed a dream start to the second spell when wing Shayne Austin pulled off an intercept inside his own 22 to score under the crossbar at the other end.
It was effectively a 14-pointer, because Tasman were threatening and had an overlap before Austin latched on to a loose pass and burned off his pursuers to present Ripia with an easy conversion.
Tasman then enjoyed their best period of the game, earning successive penalties on attack for Nikora to slice the difference to 16-20 by the 47th minute.
The latter penalty resulted in Taranaki being reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes when hooker James Annabell was sinbinned for repeated infringing.
Taranaki's plight worsened three minutes later when Nikora landed another penalty to draw his side to within one point behind after Tuifua joined Annabell in the naughty boys' seat for a high tackle which the referee, Garratt Williamson, deemed to be foul play.
Tasman were unable to make that numerical advantage count and by the time the visitors were restored to full strength the difference remained one point heading into the last quarter.
The home team continued to make most of the play and finally converted their superiority into points when fullback Robbie Malneek showed good timing to run on to a pass from second five-eighth (No.12) Joel Iggo and score a try in the 68th minute.
Nikora added the extras before Taranaki hit back immediately with Ripia's third penalty.
Tasman reasserted themselves when Iggo scored himself after a weaving 20-metre run and Nikora's conversion gave them a 10-point safety net.
Scoring:
For Tasman:
Tries: Sasagi, Malneek, Iggo
Cons: Nikora 3
Pens: Nikora 4
For Taranaki:
Tries: Malo, Austin
Cons: Ripia 2
Pens: Ripia 3
Yellow cards: James Annabell (Taranaki, 47 - repeated infringements), Taiasina Tuifua (Taranaki, 50 - dangerous tackle)
Teams:
Tasman: 15 Robbie Malneek, 14 Blair
Cook, 13 Andrew Goodman (captain), 12 Joel Iggo, 11 Kade Poki/Steve Sasagi, 10 Miah Nikora/James Marshall, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Brent Bright, 7 Jonathan Poff, 6 Glen Gregory, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Will Crutchley, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Dan Perrin, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Tristan Moran, 18 Steve Jackson, 19 Dan Hyatt, 20 Lua Vailoaloa, 21 Marshall/James Foote, 22 Mike Pehi.
Taranaki: 15 Asalemo Malo, 14 Paul Perez, 13 Nathan Hohaia, 12 Jonathan Spratt, 11 Shayne Austin, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Brett Goodin, 8 Taiasina Tuifua, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Alex Tulou, 5 Craig Clarke, 4 Jason Eaton, 3 Shane Cleaver, 2 James Annabell, 1 Tony Penn (captain).
Replacements: 16 Carl Carmichael, 17 Hamish Mitchell, 18 Leon Power, 19 Nemia Soqeta, 20 Brendan Haami, 21 Corey Niwa, 22 Jack Cameron.
Referee: Garratt Williamson
TMO: Kane McBride
Additional reporting by NZPA
