Happy days and heartache

As halfback Finlay Christie ran out the clock to see Tasman collect their second straight Mitre 10 Cup Premiership title, the emotion of the season was apparent on both sides.

Themako players chased after their halfback with hands raised before forming a red and navy dogpile; the Aucklanders could do nothing but stand with headsdown and hands on knees.

“We couldn’t do it, so apologies,” Auckland captain Angus Ta’avao said addressing the crowd.

“Two yellow cards, someeasy outs against a good side like Tasman— against any side really — is going to cost you, so we’re disappointed that it’s cometo this end.

“I just felt likewedidn’t getmany opportunities to play in the right parts of the field and that was down to our discipline. But you look at the heart and someof the shots that were being put in on both sides, it was just one of those games.”

Asmako captain David Havili explained after the match, for Tasman, being able to claim their second title in asmanyyears said plenty about the state of the union.

“We’ve had to dig deep,” Havili said.“we lost a lot of players to injury, a lot of players to higher honours, andwetold ourselves at the start of the year we’d have to go deep into our squad. We’ve done that this year and it’s great because we’re building a lot of depth for the future.”

It allowed opportunities for the depth in their squad to shine.

Noplayer did so more than winger Leicester Fainga’anuku, whowas the side’s best attacking option throughout the Premiership campaign.

Fainga’anuku expressed his pride in the team.

“The Auckland side, man, the definitely gave us whatwe expected. It was a hard80 andmy body’s feeling it,” he said.

“With the playerswehave, and the responsibility they took on board every week throughout the season to be able to recover and get their body 100 per cent for the following week, it’s been massive. I can’t thank them enough and obviously it showed in the result out here. Happy days.”