Stephen Stuart
The Tasman Mako have comfortably repelled Auckland's challenge to defend the Ranfurly Shield 31-17 at a wet and slippery Trafalgar Park in Nelson tonight.
Auckland opened the scoring in the eighth minute through a brilliant Zarn Sullivan scamper. The fullback burst through two tacklers on the Tasman 10 metre line and then out-sped the defence.
But when his goal line clearing kick was charged down, Mako centre Timoci Tavatavanawai was unstoppable close to the line.
It got worse for Sullivan with a shoulder charge seeing him sin binned for the second match in a row.
Turnovers and ill discipline have plagued Auckland all season.
Mako midfielder Will Butler immediately kicked to where Sullivan should have been and Macca Springer chased hard, with his pressure turning into a try for winger Jack Gray.
Tasman twice turned down shots at goal to kick for the line but came away unrewarded.
Auckland captain Harry Plummer kicked a penalty to cut the hosts' lead to two points.
With the challengers camped on the holders' line right on half-time, the Mako coaches were on their feet in the warmth of the box as their side defended grimly and then had the audacity to counter attack.
Tasman led 12-10 at the break and as Auckland kept infringing and with the wind behind him Willy Havili kicked four successive penalty goals to open up a 14 point buffer with 20 minutes to play.
After a brilliant defensive display, Mako Captain Finlay Christie was subbed off after 65 minutes and replaced by one test All Black halfback Noah Hotham.
Concerted forward pressure paid off with prop Ryan Coxon charging through Auckland flanker Anton Segner to score Tasman's third try.
Auckland kept trying but Tavatavanawai repeatedly stopped them in their tracks.
An intercept in the final minute allowed Auckland a runaway try to winger Caleb Tangitau but Tasman's 31-17 victory takes them to top of the NPC table.
It was their first defence in Nelson and they will return there on Sunday to try and do it all against against Taranaki.
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