Tasman outclass Canterbury

Talk about little brother embarrassing big brother.

Tasman rolled Canterbury 23-8 in Christchurch yesterday afternoon, grabbing bragging rights in the all-crusaders region match for just the second time in the last eight clashes between the sides.

The comfortable win pushed the Mako clear at the top of the premiership standings with nine points from their first two matches, seven more than Canterbury.

Indeed, the red and blacks have made a rotten start to the new season, losing their first two matches of a new season for the first time since 1996.

The only consolation Canterbury might take from the defeat is the fact they aren’t the first – and won’t be the last team – to be on the receiving end of Tasman this year.

After all, their stacked lineup, which included eight of the 19 Crusaders on show on the day – would probably give most Super Rugby sides a tickle up.

No wonder Tasman fans are daring to believe this could finally be the year they snag their maiden national provincial championship.

However, as good as they were on their way to their first win in Christchurch since 2014, the ominous thing is there is still ample room for improvement. not to trail by more than 18-3 at the halfway mark.

Their lineout faltered, they slipped off numerous tackles, were toothless with ball in hand, and were simply outmuscled by the Mako in front of their fans.

It sure was a rare sight to see them spend so much time on the back foot, and only muster a sole Brett Cameron penalty goal in the first 40 minutes.

They missed nine tackles, four of them alone during Tasman wing Leicester Fainga’anuku’s bulldozing 60m run in the 16th minute of the match.

Luke Whitelock, Ngane Punivai, Brett Cameron and Josh Mckay certainly won’t be rushing to watch a replay, given they all failed to bring the left-wing down.

It followed Levi Aumua’s fifth minute try, the result of Jordan and David Havili punishing a poor Enari box kick from inside his 22.

Tasman first five-eighth Mitch Hunt added a couple of penalty goals to stretch their lead, before Canterbury – after 35 minutes – finally found themselves inside the Mako 22.

However, the visitors’ stifled the red and blacks with their stubborn goal-line defence.