Tasman Makos: News

Makos let big fish of the Hook
24-Aug-2009

By John Alexander
The Tasman Makos were left ruing a golden opportunity lost at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday night when they lost 21-25 to Canterbury in an exciting Air New Zealand Cup rugby clash.

In fishing terms it really was the big one that got away. It's one thing hooking your prey, it's another trying to land it and someone forgot to bring the landing net because you could guarantee Canterbury would battle to the end.

The Makos were the authors of their own demise in many ways and there was little consolation for players and management afterwards that one of the power-base teams in New Zealand rugby had been run so close.

Not many Canterbury forward packs get out-muscled at set-piece time but this one did, the Makos scrum particularly dominant and the lineout rock solid, at least until the end when three slip-ups let the red and blacks off the hook. The Makos won four scrums against the head.

With three minutes remaining in the match, the Makos were awarded a penalty. Matty James found touch on Canterbury's 22 but hooker Daniel Perrin, who otherwise played very well, made a rare throwing error and the chance was lost.

The main difference was Canterbury forced three crucial turnovers in the first half and scored tries from them. The Makos created at least three opportunities of their own and didn't score from any. Their one try in the first 40 was a good one, halfback Fotuali'i darting over off a powerful scrum.

Credit to Canterbury for just winning the match because their team had very much a rookie look to it with five forwards and Daniel Carter on All Black duty. Fullback Colin Slade had them 3-0 up inside a minute from a penalty.

Winger Sean Maitland's first-half try was opportunist but well-taken, First five eighth Stephen Brett's wide pass giving him space to run, chip ahead and patiently wait for the bounce to score.

Brett was another difference between the two teams. His brilliant solo effort showed he's coming back to the form he showed a couple of years ago when everyone had him earmarked as Carter's All Blacks back-up

Winger Tu-Umaga Marshall scored on debut, racing 40 metres after two Makos defenders collided with each other.

Down 6-17, the Makos hit back with Fotuali'i's try and some more fine goal-kicking from skipper and first-five Andrew Goodman. For the third time this season he banged over a penalty from around the 50-metre mark. His superb sequence of 12 goals on the trot ended when his sideline conversion attempt of winger James Kamana's try drifted wide.

Kamana's try was a cracker scored eight minutes into the second half.

Ad Feedback A sustained build-up involving backs and forwards applied pressure. Goodman burst through between two defenders and delayed his pass just long enough to give the determined winger a sniff and his powerful fend on Slade opened up the try-line.

That was the end of the scoring. Canterbury dominated territory for a long period of the second half and a couple of times came close to scoring, Maitland losing the ball forward on the goal-line chasing a pin-point cross-kick from Brett.

The Makos eventually broke out but could not quite nail the match-winner, a couple of botched lineouts and their one bad scrum of the match not helping.

Last year the Makos were hammered twice by Canterbury, albeit a much stronger Canterbury side.

The team has obviously improved significantly up front at set-pieces but little lapses in concentration at this level are costly.

The Makos put together some very good patches of play, especially in the first half. Goodman, fullback Robbie Malneek, flanker Jonathan Poff, Fotuali'i, Perrin all broke the defensive line. Fotuali'i had an outstanding all-round match.

Winger Blair Cook was typically industrious. Goodman showed what a fine leader he is, playing well despite a thigh problem and having been ill on Friday night.

Ben Franks was a tower of strength at tight-head prop, well supported at loose-head by Sakaria Taulafo.

Joe Wheeler toiled hard, thriving in a change of position at blindside flanker. Alex Ainley and Mark Bright were in the thick of the action but it just wasn't quite enough collectively.

Brett and fullback Slade impressed in Canterbury's backline. George Whitelock was a significant presence at the breakdown in the first half and number eight Ben Coman looked a player of promise.

Fortunately, the Makos appeared to come through relatively unscathed on the injury front but the job doesn't get any easier this Friday against Hawke's Bay at Napier.

The Makos have slipped from third to sixth on the points table, unbeaten Bay of Plenty leading with Canterbury two points back in second place.

BIG MATCH WRAP

Scorers: Canterbury 25 (Sean Maitland, Stephen Brett, Tu Umaga-Marshall tries, Colin Slade 2 con, 2 pen) Tasman Makos 21 (Kahn Fotuali'i, James Kamana tries, Andrew Goodman con, 3 pen). Half-time: Canterbury 22-16

Man of the match: Canterbury first-five Stephen Brett

Tasman Makos man of the match: Halfback Kahn Fotuali'i

Key moment: Daniel Perrin overthrew a lineout throw on Canterbury's 22 with three minutes remaining and it was virtually game over from there.

Crowd: 9800 Stats:

Lineouts: Tasman Makos 12 (four against throw) Canterbury 9 (one against throw).

Penalties: Canterbury 12 Tasman Makos 7.

Territory: 50-50.

Possession: Canterbury 52 percent Tasman Makos 48.

Breakdown turnovers forced: Canterbury 12 Tasman Makos 7.

Kicks regathered: Canterbury 7 Tasman Makos 1.

Missed tackles: Tasman Makos 6 Canterbury 6

Post match comments Tasman Makos co-coach Kieran Keane: We created ample opportunities and we just didn't nail them. As much as I am a bit distressed about the result, they were fortunate and we were a bit unlucky. At the same time, we just blew a couple of big opportunities and you just can't do that."

Tasman Makos co-coach Bevan Cadwallader: "If we had cut out a couple of errors we had the game won and I know the guys will be really disappointed. We'll look back on this one and be very frustrated we didn't take it off them." Makos halfback Kahn Fotuali'i: "The way we started was awesome but we just need to look after the ball a bit better."

Man of the match, Canterbury first-five Stephen Brett: "Their (Makos) forwards were quite tough. They were giving it to our forwards physically. I really wanted to stand up. I didn't want to do too much. Just relax and go out there and play."

Canterbury coach Rob Penney: "They (Makos) came to play. It was a tight encounter and they brought a lot to the game.They out-muscled us convincingly at scrum time. Our first half performance was quite good but Tasman made it a real challenge for us."