Tasman just want to have some fun

The Tasman Makos clearly know the way to the big dance. They just keep tripping up on the dance floor.

Since their epic 26-25 win over Hawke’s Bay in the 2013 championship decider to earn promotion to the big time, Tasman have appeared in all three premiership semifinals and twice in the final.

But they’ve struck out both times, losing 36-32 to Taranaki in New Plymouth in 2014, despite scoring four tries to three, and then losing 43-27 to Canterbury in last year’s final in Christchurch to hand Canterbury their eighth premiership title in nine seasons.

Taranaki’s win also denied Tasman the distinction of becoming the first team to win both the championship and premiership titles in consecutive seasons, with not even a 19-point flurry, including three tries, in the last 16 minutes enough to deny Taranaki the season’s big prize.

Auckland were too good for Tasman in the 2015 premiership semifinals, winning 44-24, with Auckland going on to lose to Canterbury in the final. And despite overwhelming Taranaki 41-29 in their 2016 semifinal in New Plymouth, Canterbury ultimately confirmed their dominance with premiership title number eight.

Canterbury beat Tasman 39-0 in this year’s season-opener at Nel-

2013 (Championship final) - (Bryce Heem, Liam Squire, Marty Banks tries;Banks con, 3 pen) Hawke’s Bay 25 (Zac Guildford, Brendon O’Connor, Chris Eaton tries; Ihaia West 2 con, 2 pen). HT: 23-10. 2014 (Premiership final) - Taranaki 36 (Charlie Ngatai 2, Rhys Marshall tries;Codey Rei 5 pen, 3 con) Tasman 32 (Billy Guyton 2, Kieron Fonotia, Pete Samu tries; Marty Banks 2 pen, 3 con). HT:16-10. 2015 (Premiership semifinal) - Auckland 44 (Akira Ioane, Ben Lam, Bryce Heem, Lelani Nanai, George Moala tries; Simon Hickey 2 pen, 4 con, Jono Hickey pen, con) Tasman 24 (Kieron Fonotia, Trent Renata, Alex Ainley tries; Marty Banks 3 con, David Havili pen). HT: 20-3. 2016 (Premiership final) - Canterbury 43 (Richie Mo’unga 2, Dave McDuling, Nathan Earle, Rob Thompson, Billy Harmon tries;Jordie Barrett 5 con, pen) Tasman 27 (Shannon Frizell, Billy Guyton, Jesse MacDonald tries; Marty Banks 3 con, 2 pen). HT: 22-13.

son’s Trafalgar Park, and despite Canterbury showing some vulnerability in losses to Wellington and Taranaki, when they handed over the Ranfurly Shield, Canterbury enter tonight’s decider as firm favourites.

But as experienced 36-year-old Tasman skipper and lock Alex Ainley said in this week’s build up, Canterbury are the team with everything to lose.

Ainley will be playing his 90th game for the province tonight.

‘‘We had a bit of a slow start and maybe that’s why we dropped a couple of games early, especially that first one against Canterbury,’’ Ainley said.

‘‘At the end of the day it doesn’t matter where you qualify as long as you win the last two games.

‘‘We’ve got quite a different team this year, we’ve got a lot of young guys, a lot of new talent coming on board that haven’t been

Nathan Vella, Chris Gawler, Oliver Jager, Reed Prinsep, Tom Christie, Jack Stratton, Brett Cameron, Inga Finau

in that situation. But in saying that, a lot of the leaders in the team have been in that situation and were there last year - it’ll help guide the young guys.’’

Ainley had no illusions about the monumental challenge ahead of them against a formidable Canterbury side.

‘‘They’re a good team and they’re the ones out there with everything to play for. We’ve got nothing to lose.

Ti’i Paulo, Tom Hill, Ryan Coxon/Drew Patelo, Pari Pari Parkinson, Pete Samu/Braden Stewart, Billy Guyton/Ben Finau, Tim O’Malley, Trael Joass

‘‘I think we’ve just got to throw it around, have a bit of fun, play the footy that we’ve been playing and as I said, they’re a top team so we’ve got to be on our guns.

‘‘Getting to where we are after the start we had is good. I knew we could always do it and we should always do it, but the fact we’ve managed to pull through and get there is good.

‘‘Yeah, I just want to go that one step further.’’