Tasman Makos: News

Stags to strong for Tasman
12-Oct-2009

Sportal.co.nz
Fullback Glen Horton scored a hat-trick of tries as Southland beat Tasman 41-0 in their Air New Zealand Cup match in Invercargill on Saturday night.

Southland scored seven tries, six in the second spell, as it overwhelmed Tasman and charged into the top four.

The Stags simply shut Tasman out of the game as they ran rampant after the break before a crowd of more than 6000.

Tasman has over-achieved in the competition but showed the strain of a long, hard season against the much more clinical Stags.

Horton, the former Otago player, displayed some of the best form of his career while All Black Jimmy Cowan was hugely influential with his physical, combative style of play.

But the foundation as forged up front where hooker Jason Rutledge was outstanding, flanker John Hardie continued an excellent season and lock David Gannon proved a most able partner for Josh Bekhuis.

Lock Alex Ainley and flanker Jonathan Poff were honest triers for Tasman but it soon became evident this was not their day.

Southland applied almost all the early pressure and scored the first try after 16 minutes when it forced a 5m scrum. Several players drove from the ensuing rucks and finally it was Cowan who darted over. Robbie Robinson's conversion made it 7-0.

Tasman was under intense pressure much of the time but survived through its scrambling defence and Southland's wrong options and mistakes.

The Stags continued to attack as halftime approached but, with the line beckoning, right wing Matt Saunders could not get his pass away.

Southland should have been ahead by much more than 7-0. It had 79 percent territory, 64 percent possession and it spent 14 minutes in Tasman's 22, but it was unable to capitalise.

Southland struck early in the second spell when Cowan took a quick tap quick, Robinson threw a long cut-out pass and Horton scored wide out.

Horton struck again with his second try 12 minutes into the half when the Stags worked the short side and Horton ran on to Kenny Lynn's pass and stepped out a tackle on his way to the line to increase the lead to 17-0.

Southland brought up its bonus point try five minutes later when Robinson chipped through and the ball sat up for second five-eighth Jason Kawau who scored by the posts. Robinson also converted to make it 24-0.

Southland was in control and outstanding flanker Hardie scored its fifth try, midway through the half, when he sidestepped through the defence from the 22 to score under the posts. Robinson's conversion made it 31-0.

It became 36-0 seven minutes from the end when the Stags moved the ball quickly through the backs and Horton scooted over for his hat-trick.

The rout was completed when hooker Jason Rutledge burrowed over for the seventh try in the last minute.

Southland 41 (Glen Horton 3, Jimmy Cowan, Jason Kawau, John Hardie, Jason Rutledge tries; Robbie Robinson 3 cons) Tasman 0. HT: 7-0