Tasman back in the Hunt
At a glance
Mitch Hunt has again displayed his match-winning talents after helping steer the Tasman Makos to an exciting 37-35 Mitre 10 Cup win over previously unbeaten Wellington
Tasman had looked in serious trouble of slumping to their second defeat against a championship team when Wellington led 28-13 shortly after halftime. But in a clutch finish, a converted Hunt try with just nine minutes remaining provided the late impetus for a thrilling Tasman win.
A late try to Wellington winger Losi Filipo with just minutes remaining heightened the tension although Tasman bravely held on to complete a remarkable win.
Tasman had already suffered at the hands of one championship team this season. It’s not often that premiership teams start as underdogs against lower-tier opposition although such has been Wellington’s form this season that they’ve been justifiably heralded as one of the competition’s pace setters.
They’d entered Sunday’s contest averaging 38 points from wins over Manawatu, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay.
But despite outscoring Tasman by five tries to four, it was Tasman’s time to celebrate as they kept their playoff hopes alive.
Wellington suffered an early loss when skipper and No 8 Brad Shields departed with a leg injury after just nine minutes. But they stunned Tasman with two early length of the field tries, prop Alex Fidow scoring the first following a turnover on Wellington’s own line and fullback Ben Lam later backing up a superb break from his centre Wes Goosen for a handy 14-6 lead.
Wellington looked dangerous given width, their excellent support play and offloading often having Tasman scrambling in defence. Tasman still managed some of their best control of the season to apply much of the territorial pressure over the opening quarter.
The difference between the two teams in the first half was finishing, Wellington’s more clinical execution in stark contrast to Tasman’s unsuccessful efforts inside Wellington’s red zone.
Also significant was the impact of Wellington’s tight five on attack, with all their big men making massive contributions to the team’s power.
Tasman’s persistence finally paid off though when loosehead prop Tim Perry crashed over after 13 phases to reduce Wellington’s lead to just 14-13.
However, Wellington struck continuity and strike again just before the break when big lock Sam Lousi lunged over from an attacking lineout for a 21-13 halftime lead.
It took Wellington just six minutes after the restart to score their bonus try when lock James Blackwell ambled across to pile even more pressure on the home team at 28-13.
Tasman worked desperately to stay in touch, fullback Will Jordan cleverly running off a Mitch Hunt offload for their second try. And when winger James Lowe latched on to a pinpoint Alex Nankivell grubber kick midway through the half, Tasman were suddenly back in the equation at 28-27.
A Hunt penalty for a high tackle, followed by Hunt’s heroic late try hade the home team in front 37-28 with not even Filipo’s try with just minutes remaining
(Tim Perry, Will Jordan, James Lowe, Mitch Hunt tries; Mitch Hunt 3 pen, 4 con),
(Alex Fidow, Ben Lam, Sam Louisi, James Blackwell, Losi Filipo tries; Jackson GardenBachop 5 con) Ht: 13-21 enough to deny Tasman a critical win.
Tasman’s defence and composure improved markedly throughout the second half as Wellington, for once, failed to deliver as they slumped to their first defeat in five games.