Mustangs forwards trample Sharks
The Manawatu Mustangs have the edge when it comes to qualifying for the national competition after they beat the Taranaki Sharks 32-24 at Fitzherbert Park on Saturday.
The two sides will square off again in New Plymouth in two weeks time for the return leg of the series, with the winner qualifying for the next round of the national tournament.
If Manawatu win, draw of lose by fewer then eight points, they will go through, but if they lose by more than eight points Taranaki will qualify.
Mustangs captain Corey Governor was confident they would be able to replicate their form in the next game.
‘‘If we get the boys back and continue training, in two weeks time if we can go up there and play like we did today, then no doubt we’ll go through to the national competition,’’ he said.
Manawatu dominated most of the match against Taranaki, but did have a few patches where they dropped off on defence, particularly at the end of the game, where they looked to have run out of puff.
Mustangs coach Matthew Cole was pleased they had turned it around the 38-8 loss to Taranaki in New Plymouth in May.
‘‘The team we took up there would have crumbled [on Saturday]. It shows that more time together is better.’’
In the first half it looked as if Manawatu would win by more than eight points, as their forwards, particularly props Gordy Karaitiana and Pita Marshall, made easy metres up the middle.
That gave Manawatu’s back rowers a free rein on the edges, and lock Codie Christensen especially made the most of it.
Christensen was sold on defence, was hard for the Taranaki
defence to handle with his probing runs and he scored a hat-trick, including a 100m intercept when Manawatu were defending on their try line.
The Mustangs scored five tries in the first half, but missed a few tough conversions to lead 22-10 at the break.
Second rowers Solomua Falemai and Graham Merriman were getting quick play the balls, while Taranaki’s ball was slow.
Manawatu were up 32-10 but started missing tackles as they got tired and and conceded three late tries.
Pare Tapiata made a good impact off the bench on attack and defence, wing Serevasio Vetenibua was dangerous and standoff Sione Akau played well.