Mako shoot down Stags with strong forward effort

By Peter Jones [Marlborough Weekly / Marlborough App]

The Tasman Mako men kept it simple during their final Bunnings NPC rugby warm-up match in Christchurch yesterday.

They defeated the Southland Stags 20-7 with a clinical display of forward power.

All four of the Mako unconverted tries were scored in the same fashion, through an unstoppable forward drive from a lineout close to the Stags’ line.

Tasman scored twice in the first spell, to lead 10-0 at the break, then another soon after, before Southland came back with a converted try to narrow the gap to 15-7.

However, the Mako finished on top, a fourth hard-driving effort on the final hooter wrapping up a convincing victory.

They open their NPC campaign against last season’s premiership semi-final opponent Bay of Plenty in Tauranga on Saturday. Kick-off is 2.05pm.