The Tasman Mako came out on top of a free-scoring clash with Southland in Invercargill tonight, prevailing 55-38 to keep their hopes of a home NPC quarterfinal alive.
In an entertaining match of contrasting halves, Tasman looked superb in the first spell, racing to a 41-7 lead at the break. However, they came out flat in the second spell, the home side playing with more confidence and cohesion to fight their way back into the contest.
Although they convincingly won the second half 31 points to 14, the Stags never got close enough to influence the final outcome.
By halftime the Mako had the game, and a bonus point, in the bag.
They scored tries with relentless regularity, hooker Tomasi Maka and fullback David Havili both bagging a brace, while right winger Kyren Taumoefolau picked up a hat-trick, underlining the finishing skills for which he is becoming renowned.
Willie Havili, who orchestrated play superbly in the pivot’s role, landed three conversions to allow the visitors to take a commanding lead into the sheds.
The Mako played with accuracy, discipline and skill – mixing close range forward charges and clinical breakdown work with slick back movement, striking when the time was right.
Their decision-making was clear, everyone seemingly on the same page.
The only down side from a near-perfect 40 minutes of footy was an early injury to lock Hunter Leppien and a conceded try to powerful Southland loosie Semisi Tupuo Ta’eiloa.
However, as the Mako have done in several games this season, they took their foot off the throat for a large period of the second spell, beginning to fall off tackles, appearing disjointed and with their bench players unable to provide energy and momentum.
The Stags were always going to come back from a first half horror show and their five second half tries underlined their character, but there was too much loose, indecisive play and ineffective tackling in the second 40 from the visitors.
Their nine tries on the night suggest there is very little wrong with the Mako attack, which was quite stunning at times, but they will be looking hard at their defence, individually and collectively, as they head into their final round robin game, against Counties Manukau in Nelson next Saturday.
Scorers: Tasman 55 (Kyren Taumoefolau 3, David Havili 2, Tomasi Mako 2, Ryan Coxon, Macca Springer tries, Willie Havili 5 con) Southland 38 (Semisi Tupuo Ta’eiloa, Michael Manson 3, Paula Latu, Kaleb Karangaroa tries, Mika Muliaina 3 con, Dan Hollinshead con) HT: 41-7.
