Tasman Makos: News

B team blows winning opportunity
24-Sep-2007

By WAYNE MARTIN - The Nelson Mail

The Tasman Makos B team tossed away victory and probably a playoff opportunity with a disappointing 26-22 loss to Bay of Plenty B on Saturday.

Tasman's hopes of making the national B championship rugby semifinals now rest in other teams' hands after it blew a 22-point lead against the stronger-finishing visitors at Trafalgar Park.

A rout looked imminent as Tasman stormed to a 22-0 lead inside the opening 17 minutes - including three excellent tries - as it threatened to shut Bay of Plenty out of the contest.

But the hosts never scored again as Bay of Plenty rattled on 26 unanswered points to steal a deserved win.

Tasman looked impressive during the opening quarter as a clincial forward effort, sustained continuity and three fine tries had all the momentum going the home team's way.

Prop Siaki Peti crossed after just three minutes following some solid build-up by his packmates, and winger Rikki Tukaki followed him across three minutes later after Bay of Plenty turned over possession near its own quarter.

Tukaki crossed again in the 14th minute when a wide pass by halfback Nick Makea from an attacking scrum gave the winger plenty of space out wide.

Then Bay of Plenty woke up. While it took time to get the operation properly into gear, signs of a revival were evident seven minutes before the break, when big lock Josh Katene-Roberts barged across after an attacking lineout.

Ahead 22-7 at halftime, Tasman still had the match well within its grasp. But the longer the second half progressed, the more Tasman dug itself into a hole as poor discipline and frequent turnovers gave Bay of Plenty all the ammunition it needed.

Bay of Plenty turned up the heat and continued to apply pressure, and with first five-eighth Kelly Haimona making substantial territorial gains with his kicking, Tasman gradually began to lose the initiative.

Three Haimona penalties soon had Bay of Plenty just six points adrift at 16-22, and when Tasman winger Ali Durrant threw the ball over the touchline with four minutes remaining, the resulting penalty enabled centre Hayden Beard to scamper across out wide with men to spare as the visitors took the lead at 23-22.

Bay of Plenty still wasn't done. With Tasman continuing to infringe at the breakdowns, a yellow card to lock Ben Coman (midfielder Junior Sifa had already received one earlier in the half) gave Haimona his final chance to seal victory.

Where Tasman had looked composed and efficient during the first quarter, it gradually began to dissolve under the mounting pressure imposed by an aggressive Bay of Plenty forward pack.

Tasman's scoring opportunities became less frequent during the second half, although those it did create were negated by mishandling and turnovers inspired by an urgent Bay of Plenty defence.

BAY OF PLENTY B 26 (Josh Katene-Roberts, Hayden Beard tries, Kelly Haimona 4 pens, 2 cons)

TASMAN MAKOS B 22 (Rikki Tukaki 2, Siaki Peti tries, Gareth Arlidge 2 cons, Peter Maisey pen). Ht 7-22.