NEWS BLOG

The 2018 Mako women: Pippa Andrews, Leti Fotumoala, Hayley Hutana, Aieisha Tepuia, Kelly Couper, Kelly Stanford, Alexa Fraser, Ashleigh Nathan, Niska Scott (Moutere); Tessa Silcock, Katie Silcock, Dana Wilson, Staci Kohe, Michelle Curry, Tamara Silcock (Marist); Demi Salton, Anna Bradley, Stephani Mitchell, Louise Nalder, Juanita Thompson, Jess Foster-Lawrence (Waimea Old Boys; Peri Beech, Hannah Kelly, Erica Saunders, Rheanna Wood (Motueka HS); Crystal Hayes (Bay of Plenty). Three to be added. Coaches Marty O’Cain, Mark Kelly. Manager Koren Grason.

Tasman XV 47 (Tries to Caleb Havili, Will Jordan, James Hawkey, Nick Foxley, Willie Havili, penalty try, Jesse MacDonald, six conversions) Manawatu XV 15. HT 21-5.

A Tasman Mako High-Performance rugby squad has been chosen to prepare for Mitre 10 Cup pre-season matches against Manawatu and Wellington. The Manawatu game is scheduled for 11.30am on Friday, August 3, in Porirua, while the Wellington game will be played at the Renwick Domain on Thursday August 9, kick off 2pm.

Tasman Rugby and the Mako are really excited about the final preseason match which is set to be played in Renwick on Thursday August 9. The Renwick Rugby Club will be running the match day at the Renwick Recreation Reserve to raise funds which will go towards an upgrade to their floodlights.

Crusaders hooker Andrew Makalio, another talented player to drift through the Auckland and Blues' recruitment net, is tipped to start against his hometown team in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Along with wife Jenna, 71-test All Black Wyatt Crockett is taking over the Nelson Stirling Sports franchise as part of a return home to where his rugby career kicked off.

The Tasman Mako are set to benefit from Jordan Taufua's decision to back out of a contract with a Japanese club. The hard-hitting loose forward has been granted a release from the Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars club before playing a game for them.

Tasman Buccaneers 26 (Tomas Aoake, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Isaiah Miller, Hugo Nankivell tries, Tim O’Malley con, Willie Havili 2 con) drew with Counties Manukau 26

A Tasman Buccaneers squad of 24 players has been named to play Counties-Manukau this Wednesday, 1.15pm at Mountford Park, Manurewa.

Tasman Mako High Performance XV: 1 Ryan Coxon, 2 Jesse MacDonald, 3 Blair Prinsep, 4 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidevita, 5 Mike Curry, 6 Jacob Norris, 7 Ant Burnett, 8 Hugo Nankivell; 9 Ben Finau, 10 Tim O’Malley, 11 Tima Faingaanuku, 12 Mike Vaeno, 13 Nick Foxley, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Fetuli Paea. Bench: Brendon Asomua-Goodman, Tim Perry, George Tuineau, Caleb Havili, Jordan Taufua, Nemia Kenatele, Willie Havili, Timoci Tavatavanawai.

Nelson Rugby Football Club members Ethan Blackadder,Tima Faingaanuku (on debut), David Havili, Quinten Strange and Wyatt Crockett featured in the Crusader's 34-20 win over the Chiefs.