Mako claim bonus point win over Taranaki

By Peter Jones [Marlborough App]

The Tasman Mako ended their "Storm Week" with a well-deserved Bunnings NPC rugby victory at Trafalgar Park today, beating Taranaki 38-27.

Tasman forged a solid lead, weathered a strong Taranaki comeback, then finished strongly to claim their third win of a tough season.

The visitors struck first, early pressure creating a successful penalty attempt by first five Daniel Waite.

After defusing more Taranaki attacks it was the home side who bagged the first try. Pressure on Taranaki’s feed at a 5m scrum saw the ball squirt out, halfback Noah Hotham reacting quickest to scoop it up and dot down. Willie Havili’s conversion gave the Mako a 7-3 lead, somewhat against the run of play.

Taranaki went close halfway through the first spell, being held up over the line, then the home side roared back, flanker Braden Stewart finding a hole in a fractured Naki defence and racing 35m for his side’s second try, Havili converting for a 14-3 lead.

Hooker and captain Andrew Makalio left the field with injury soon after, being replaced by stalwart Quentin MacDonald, who became the most capped Mako of all time, surpassing Robbie Malneek’s record 104 caps.

Waite narrowed the gap with a second penalty goal soon after, but it was the hosts who had the final say before oranges, Hotham bagging his second with a simple 8/9 move from a 5m scrum. Havili’s third conversion saw his side head to the sheds with a 21-6 advantage.

Within a minute of returning to the field the home side were in again, centre Levi Aumua capitalising on superb lead-up work by Hotham and winger Macca Springer. Havili landed his fourth conversion to push the Mako ahead 28-6.

The loss of both outstanding flankers Anton Segner and Stewart in the first 10 minutes of the second spell added to the rapidly-lengthening Mako injury list and Taranaki were the next to strike. Firstly, replacement Tom Florence finished a sweeping move, then winger Kini Naholo raced over on the left, two conversions to Matt McKenzie narrowing the gap to eight points.

Replacement Campbell Parata steadied the Tasman ship with a long range penalty, bringing the score to 31-20 and allowing the home side some breathing room as the visitors began to throw everything into all-out attack.

However, Tasman dug deep and worked their way back into a strong field position before grabbing their fifth try, replacement Fetuli Paea cutting through to create a try for fullback Tomasi Alosio. Parata’s conversion gave his side a 38-20 lead and calmed the home crowd’s nerves.

However, the scoring wasn’t over, replacement halfback Logan Crowley scooting over for a converted try to close the gap to 11 points but it was too little too late for the visitors.

Loose forwards Stewart, Segner and Sione Havili were outstanding for the Mako, along with Hotham, Aumua, winger Macca Springer and Alex Nankivell, while the tight five battled for the whole 80 minutes and won many of the pivotal moments.

History-making hooker MacDonald, who played a big part in proceedings, said the win was a big step forward for the Mako as they push towards a quarterfinal position.

“It was a good day for running rugby and I thought we needed to get back to the Mako style that we have become renowned for. I think we did that … there are always work-ons, but we have just finished our big Storm Week so to get the win is pretty special.”

MacDonald also noted the input of youngsters such as Hotham and Springer.

“I’m probably part of the furniture now,” he said, “so it is awesome to see those boys running around. I’m just trying to keep up.”

Scorers: Tasman 38 (Noah Hotham 2, Levi Aumua, Tomasi Alosio, Braden Stewart tries, Willie Havili 4 con, Campbell Parata pen, con) Taranaki 27 (Tom Florence, Kini Naholo, Logan Crowley tries, Daniel Waite 2 pen, Matt McKenzie 3 con). HT: 21-6