A second half onslaught from the Tasman men’s side saw off a spirited showing from the Wellington Lions in their NPC rugby clash at Lansdowne Park tonight, the Mako prevailing 42-28.
Tasman, with three wins this campaign, went this match as raging hot favourites on the TAB, but were fully aware of the dangers the winless Lions possessed.
The home side, facing the breeze, started the match with purpose, stringing multiple phases together before sending David Havili over the line in the first five minutes. His brother Willie’s sideline conversion gave the home side a 7-0 lead.
But Wellington were undaunted, establishing field position and scoring twice, to blockbusting winger Divad Palu and hard-working loosie Dominic Ropeti, both converted by first five Callum Harkin.
Tasman responded immediately, creating multiple entries into their opponent’s 22 but came up empty-handed before halftime, errors coupled with poor option-taking and some stern defence denying them time and again.
Despite holding a 14-7 lead at oranges, the Lions faced a big ask battling into the wind. However, Tasman needed to adopt a more ruthless mindset if they were to justify the bookie’s odds.
They showed that they had absorbed halftime messages with their second try five minutes after halftime, hooker Eli Oudenryn slipping through the Wellington defence close to the posts. Havili’s conversion levelled the scores.
Their third try was not far behind, skipper Johnny Lee capitalising on some clinical lead-up work to crash over. Again, Havili converted to push the Mako ahead 21-14.
Five minutes later the home side were in again, replacement winger Macca Springer darting over on the left. Havili was again on target and the Mako had turned the game around and led 28-14.
Soon they had their fifth, lively fullback Maloni Kunawave striding through some tired defence to dot down. Cooper Grant converted to stretch the lead to 35-14.
But the Lions still had some bite. Du’Plessis Kirifi replying immediately after a Mako mistake at the restart, Harkin converting to close the gap to 35-21.
Then Kyren Taumoefolau, the NPC’s top tryscorer produced a party piece, sprinting 65m to thrill the home town supporters and inspire the biggest roar of the night, Grant again converting to restore the 21-point lead, 42-21.
Again Wellington replied, replacement Logan Henry scoring and Harkin converting, but it was too little, too late for Wellington as the final whistle blew on an action-packed encounter watched by a sizeable crowd.
The Mako had plenty of top performers. They welcomed back the influential and slick-distributing Mitchell Drummond, while Lee, prop Tom Heywood, lock Antonio Shalfoon, the energetic Oudenryn, Kunawave and playmaker Willie Havili also caught the eye, plus, inevitably, Taumoefolau.
Next up the Mako play Otago in Dunedin on Friday.
