A brave Tasman team came up just short in their battle to bring the Ranfurly Shield back to the top of the south.
The Mako went down 20-10 to the Northland Taniwha in Whangarei today, the NPC clash turning into a war of attrition, with just three tries scored and two evenly-matched sides going head to head in every facet of the contest.
On the balance of possession and position Northland deserved to retain their precious Log o’ Wood, pinning Tasman in their own half for most of the second half and coming up with the decisive strikes when it mattered.
The first half ended 10-10.
Tasman, with a strong wind at their backs, scored the first try, through aggressive hooker Eli Oudenryn off the back of a lineout drive, while fullback Jordan Trainor ended a multi-phase effort with the first five-pointer for the Taniwha midway through the half. A penalty and conversion to Rivez Reihana, matched by Tasman’s Willie Havili, completed the scoring.
The latter stages of the first half were scrappy, with the discipline of both sides being tested.
Tasman’s set piece work was excellent early, but began to come under pressure as Northland slowly but surely began to recapture some of the form which had seen them wrest the Shield from Canterbury over a week earlier.
The early stages of the second spell were scoreless, the Taniwha scrum holding sway and the penalties mounting up against Tasman, who were unable to make a conclusive exit from their own half.
Eventually, after a lengthy period of pressure, the Taniwha decided to take three points to break the deadlock, the influential Reihana slotting a penalty on the 68-minute mark.
A breakdown penalty against Tasman immediately after the restart allowed Northland back into the Mako half and they stayed there, creating more goal line and penalty pressure before Reihana took matters into his own hands after a succession of charges at the line, darting over for a try under the posts to seal the deal.
This was a gutsy effort from the Mako, who lost several players through injury during the match. It was an old-fashioned Shield challenge, both sides giving their all, but defence dominating for most of the contest.
Oudenryn, Antonio Shalfoon, Johnny Lee, Tom Heywood and Rory Scott stood out in the Mako pack. Further out, Nic Sauira had a top game, always inventive and dangerous on the carry, while David Havili inspired the troops, especially in the early stages.
However, ultimately it was Taniwha time at Semenoff Stadium, although they will have to be sharper and more clinical if they are to hold onto the Log until season’s end.
Scores: Northland 20 (Jordan Trainor, Rivez Reihana tries, Reihana 2 con, 2 pen) Tasman 10 (Eli Oudenryn try, Willie Havili con, pen). HT: 10-10
