Momentum all with Tasman in semifinal

After 12 fairly fruitless seasons, the time has finally come for the Tasman Mako to step out of the shadow of their big brother from Christchurch.

Dropping just one game in their regular season Mitre 10 Cup campaign, the Mako will fancy their chances against Canterbury in their semifinal in Nelson tonight.

Established in 2006, the Mako have just one title to their name – winning the Championship in 2013. In the same season, Canterbury won the Premiership – one of their 14 NPC titles.

The sides met in the first match of the season, and any doubters of this Tasman squad got a big surprise with the Mako putting the Cantabrians away with relative ease. Though semifinal football brings with it a different level of intensity, Tasman are up to the task.

Across the pitch, while they might have fallen to an eight-point loss in the season opener, every rugby fan in the country knows Canterbury are a dangerous match up come knockout season. After stumbling out of the gates, Canterbury lost just one other match to finish third on the premiership ladder.

If there’s one match worth tuning into this weekend, it’s this one.

The match-up is a rematch of the 2016 and 2017 Mitre 10 Cup finals, with Canterbury getting the better for the Tasman side on both occasions. However, those who believe in momentum in the sporting arena will say it’s all with Tasman.

They get the home ground advantage, and come into the match off a 29-0 thrashing of Hawke’s Bay.

The Cantabrians struggled to a 19-14 win over Counties Manukau in the last game of their regular season.

Fullback Will Jordan has led the Tasman attack this season with nine tries, ahead of Solomon Alaimalo, Mitch Hunt and Andrew Makalio with four; while Hunt has been on target with the boot.

However it’s been their defence that has been the big difference maker for the Mako.

They conceded the fewest points during the regular season (195) and posted a points differential of 124.

Canterbury aren’t without their own weapons, with halfback Mitchell Drummond, five-five Brett Cameron, outside back George Bridge, lock Luke Romano and No 8 Luke Whitelock named in the All Blacks squad to travel to Japan later this year.

Tasman v Canterbury Nelson, 7.35 tonight