Tasman set up another big dance
TASMAN’S ability to beat Taranaki away from home has been highlighted for a second straight year after they upset the Mitre 10 Cup top qualifiers 30-29 in New Plymouth last night.
The victory sets up another final in Christchurch next Saturday, with Canterbury favoured to continue their domination of domestic rugby.
While Taranaki looked arguably the more dangerous side for periods, they were let down badly by their discipline as they got on the wrong side of referee Nick Briant, and paid the ultimate price in failing to send veteran coach Colin Cooper off in the sort of style many in their region would have wanted.
However, the win was nothing short of what Tasman deserved, as they simply made their opposition pay for their mistakes and their insistence on playing high-octane rugby, when some less combustible fuel might have made things run more smoothly.
Tasman made all the early running in the match off the back of several errors from Taranaki and could have been into double figures within six minutes, had it not been for a shocking penalty miss from Mitchell Hunt and some poor handling from halfback Finlay Christie with the tryline open.
As it was they had to settle for two successful shots after they were gift-wrapped two penalties after some poor Taranaki discipline.
Still, Taranaki’s first foray into the Tasman half produced points, which was swiftly countered by Hunt’s third in his 25-point haul, but the biggest problem for the top qualifiers was maintaining possession as they seemed hell-bent on trying to do the glorious before the graft.
That wasn’t a problem Tasman had as their speed to the breakdown and their clean-out work ensured they were patient enough to profit off Hunt’s boot.
When they did finally show some patience, and it took 25 minutes, Taranaki crossed through Declan O’Donnell, who exploited a blindside overlap to give Taranaki an unexpected lead.
That was short-lived, however, as Taranaki’s lack of mature option taking was exposed again when Tima Faingaanuku said thanks to opposition halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi for a gift intercept, despite an almost miracle defensive effort from Stephen Perofeta.
Further porous defence, combined with an alarmingly inferior Tasman scrum, saw Taranaki restore their lead after Charlie Ngatai crossed, before Hunt added a fourth penalty from the kick-off.
Even then a halftime lead was on offer for Taranaki, but they opted to attack instead of kick, an option that ultimately failed with the sides going back to their respective rooms locked at 17-17.
Taranaki showed they learnt little at the beak as they again came out trying to push crazy passes, while Tasman made them pay with a Hunt try, following a decisive break from wing James Lowe.
A fifth Hunt penalty opened up a 10-point advantage for the underdogs before Taranaki hit back with their third and fourth tries, in what felt like little more than a blink.
A few changes to the Tasman scrum were rewarded when they earned a scrum penalty, with Hunt landing his sixth goal as the lead changed hands again.
There was a chance for Taranaki at the death, but a 55m penalty attempt by Marty McKenzie went wide.