ITM Cup
Makos put the bite on Wellington
ESPN Staff
September 20, 2014
Tasman fullback Robbie Malneek races away to score his side's first try © Getty Images
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Wellington 20-42 Tasman

Tasman's impressive run in the National Provincial Championship has continued with a dominant 42-20 victory over struggling Wellington. The Makos, newly-promoted to the Premiership, ran in five tries to two as they chalked up the province's first victory over the Lions.

Winger James Lowe grabbed two of their touchdowns to follow his brace four days ago in the win over Southland, and fly-half Marty Banks added 17 points from the boot.

The Makos' speed out wide was on display in their two first-half tries. The first came after a line-out win against the throw in their own half. When the ball was shifted to winger Bryce Heem, the New Zealand Sevens representative stepped on the accelerator before sending fullback Robbie Malneek over. Lowe then showed his pace on the left flank in finishing off a move from a lineout.

The Lions' only responses in the opening spell were two penalties goals from Willie Ripia, their fifth No.10 in their six matches so far this season. Tasman scored two more tries in the 10 minutes after the interval to secure a bonus point. Lock Alex Ainley dotted down after a big run by centre Kieron Fonotia, before Lowe again demonstrated good speed to get around the cover defence. The Makos got over the line a fifth time through flanker Pete Samu, who produced some individual brilliance in snaring a turnover deep in his own half and then sprinting away.

Wellington did manage two late consolation tries on either side of Samu's effort, with props Tolu Fahamokioa and Eric Sione each crashing over.

While the result lifted Tasman to within a point of leaders Canterbury, it meant Wellington, last year's runners-up, remain the only winless team in either NPC division.

Tom Franklin crashes over for an Otago try © Getty Images
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Otago 38-7 Waikato

Otago have bounced back from a devastating loss in round five to hammer Waikato 38-7 in Dunedin. Otago completely overran Waikato as they ran in four tries to one. Starting quickly Otago crashed over in the opening minutes to take an early lead before Waikato crashed over for their only points of the match. In a fast-paced match, both sides fought hard but it was Otago that proved too good as they went ahead 20-7 at half-time with tries through hooker Teihorangi Walden, lock Thomas Franklin and two penalties to Hayden Parker.

Waikato continued to struggle to find the line with Otago's defence holding strong and repelling the Waikato attack before adding another two penalties to their score by the 60th minute. Waikato was eventually opened up in defence with Hayden Parker punching through a huge gap to score the sides third try before Fa'asiu Fuatai crashed over to seal the strong in.

Manawatu 41-20 Southland

The Manawatu Turbos regained the lead in the NPC Championship after registering a 41-20 victory over Southland in Palmerston North on Saturday night. The Turbos also managed to take a bonus point after the five-tries-to-two win.

Manawatu scored three tries in the first half and took a 24-13 lead into the second stanza. And the Turbos put on another two tries in the second half to extend the winning margin to 21 points.

Both goalkickers were impeccable with all 11 shots on target; Lima Sopoaga kicking four and Manawatu's Otere Black slotting six for 14 points.

Manawatu play Waikato next week while Southland travel to Canterbury.

Auckland 32-7 North Harbour

Auckland have cruised to a 32-7 victory over neighbours North Harbour in difficult conditions to consolidate fourth spot in the National Provincial Championship. Auckland dominated large passages of the cross-over match at a wet and windy Eden Park, getting plenty of front-foot ball and producing some tight defence when called on.

They rounded off a solid performance with tries to replacement hooker Gafatasi Su'a and fly-half Gareth Anscombe in the last six minutes to secure a bonus point. Su'a got his try after a big run by winger George Moala before Anscombe showed some slick footwork to dot down. Harbour, sitting bottom of the second-tier Championship, did manage the last say, midfield back Pita Ahki scoring a runaway try after the hooter from a rare Auckland error.

Openside flanker Sean Polwart was impressive for the home side, who went into half-time up 11-0 on the back of Ben Lam's early try. Lam's touchdown came after a patient attack of multiple phases. There was also good continuity, and some slick handling despite the weather, when centre Hadleigh Parkes scored early in the second spell to make it a comfortable lead.

Hawke's Bay 36-17 Bay of Plenty

Hawke's Bay's Shannan Chase holds up the Ranfurly Shield © Getty Images
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Hawke's Bay have retained the Ranfurly Shield after a convincing win over Bay of Plenty in Napier. Although Hawke's Bay started slowly, they built a steady lead with early penalties and a try through Michael Allardice before half-time to lead 14-3 heading into the break.

Building upon their lead Ihaia West dove over for his first try of the match before Ryan Tongia scored his first. The Steelers fought back with two tries through Maritino Nemani and Jesse Acton but a second to West and Tongia and a red card to Nemani put the game out of reach for the Steamers.

Counties Manukau 20-28 Canterbury

Defending champions Canterbury jumped back to the top of the ITM Cup rugby table after repelling a spirited Counties Manukau challenge to secure a 28-20 victory. The competition's only unbeaten side, Canterbury made it six wins from six matches to hold a one-point lead over second-placed Taranaki with a game in hand.

The result in Pukekohe was seldom in doubt after a clinical first-half performance by the visitors, but they had to hold off a fightback by the home side. For the Steelers, the loss was their fourth in a row and keeps the former Ranfurly Shield holders second bottom in the Premiership.

Canterbury got on the front foot early, flanker Matt Todd scoring from a line-out drive in the 12th minute. They then showed characteristic patience as their forwards built phases before the ball was moved out to winger Johnny McNicholl to cross in the corner.

A set play from a solid scrum early in the second spell led to Canterbury's third try through skipper Willie Heinz. That sparked a lively response from Counties, with winger Frank Halai finishing off a neat backline move. They almost scored a quick second with lock Sikeli Nabou being held up over the line. Nabou was sinbinned minutes later for a punch on Todd.

But the Steelers made light of their one-man deficit, another of their attacks finishing with centre Rey Lee-Lo tackled just short of the line. They did manage to have the final say, Halai getting his second try after an 80-metre run two minutes from time.

Earlier, All Blacks lock Dominic Bird came off the bench for Canterbury for his first match since suffering a foot injury in the Crusaders' defeat in the Super Rugby final. Bird was in the action earlier than expected, replacing the injured Joel Everson in the 19th minute, and produced an encouraging first hit-out after seven weeks out.

Nepo Laulala runs the ball hard into the Steelers defence © Getty Images
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Northland 20-31 Taranaki

Taranaki have returned to the top of the NPC premiership after a hard-fought, four-tries-to-two 31-20 win over Northland on Thursday night.

Taranaki failed to capitalise on a one-man advantage early on and Northland crossed the line first, centre Brook Gilmore scoring under the posts.

Taranaki did hit back through centre Seta Tamanivalu but only managed to lead 11-7 at half-time.

Dan Hawkins and Codey Rei traded penalties immediately after the break and Taranaki's possession and territorial dominance finally told in the final 22 minutes when tries to fly-half Marty McKenzie, No. 8 Blade Thomson and winger Waisake Naholo sealed the result despite a consolation try to Northland through Jone Macilai-Tori.

The loss leaves Northland second in the Championship table behind Manawatu on for and against.

Southland 14-38 Tasman

Premiership play-off contenders Tasman have got their NPC rugby campaign back on track by overwhelming Southland 38-14 in a cross-over match. The Makos, who had conceded a post-hooter converted try to lose to Taranaki by a point in their last outing, bounced back to run in five tries.

Winger James Lowe grabbed a double, while former All Blacks scrum-half and new Blues signing Jimmy Cowan also dotted down. A long-time Southland servant before he departed two years ago for English club Gloucester, Cowan had an eventful return to Invercargill. He scored with a sharp snipe courtesy of a dominant scrum, then got himself sinbinned for a high tackle.

There was an appearance off the Southland bench for another ex-All Black, 36-year-old hooker Andrew Hore, who had come out of retirement to help out the Stags.

The result pulled Tasman level on points with second-placed Taranaki in the top division, while Southland, who had lock Jock Bekhuis making his 100th appearance for the province, stayed fourth in the Championship.

Tasman sprinted out of the blocks, their superiority at set piece and their continuity with ball in hand helping them find holes in the Southland defence. They raced out to a 24-0 lead at a point a minute via tries to flanker Pete Samu, Cowan and first five-eighth Marty Banks, who also went on to land all six of his kicks to finish with an 18-point haul.

The Stags did manage to work themselves back into the contest and hooker Dillan Halaholo got them on the board with a try from a lineout move. But Lowe showed plenty of pace to complete his second-half brace, before Southland replacement No.8 Bill Fukofuka got a late consolation touchdown.

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