Visitors stick it to top dogs at home
Tasman’s ambitions to become the first team to win the ITM Cup Championship and Premiership in consecutive seasons solidified with their 38-10 victory over hosts Canterbury in the Crusaders local derby.
It was the first time Tasman had beaten Canterbury in Christchurch and it was a record victory. Tasman halfback Jimmy Cowan summed it up in a rare memorable halftime interview: “It’s about getting stuck into the top dog at home.”
The win guarantees Tasman a home semifinal with one week left of the regular season. Marty Banks’ 74th-minute intercept confirmed the four-try bonus point.
In contrast, Canterbury have toil ahead if they’re to add to their six back-to-back titles. The result was their third straight loss after going down to North Harbour and Southland. The task gets no easier against Taranaki this week.
The hosts dominated territory and possession for long periods but the visitors seized on moments of fragility, scything through the defence twice in the first half to create an 11-point deficit.
Robbie Malneek’s no-look pass should be loaded on to the highlights reel. He delivered the ball on the cut back to James Lowe who, before last night’s game, had gained the most metres (686) this season.
Lowe was also involved in the first try when he delivered to David Havili after distribution from the scrum. Canterbury hesitated on the tackle and Tasman capitalised.
Malneek also produced a rare upside down grubber kick which led to Cowan’s try and extended the lead to 21-3 in the second half. In the tackle the fullback attempted to pop a pass which connected with his foot instead. Tasman seized on the ball in the confusion.
For Canterbury, openside flanker Matt Todd showed tenacity. He shone at the breakdown, put in some menacing tackles and was potent with the ball in hand.
The early stanzas were beset by scrum problems and play often scuffled across the field.
Tasman’s umbrella defence was organised and their forwards regularly drove the hosts back beyond the advantage line. Canterbury would be ruing the rejection of three first-half penalty shots which could have changed Tasman’s strategy. Canterbury 10 (M. Mo’unga con, pen) Tasman Havili, J. Lowe 2, J. Cowan, M. Banks tries; Banks 5 cons, pen). Halftime: Tasman 14-3.