Mako women win on road
It is all about homegrown for the Tasman Mako women this season but it was a Wellington club player who provided a star turn for them against Taranaki in their Farah Palmer Cup championship match today.
Victoria University winger Kim Lammers scored five tries, four of them laid on by fullback Bethan Manners.
The Mako had only managed two tries in their first two FPC games but appreciated the huge drop in class against the Naki in New Plymouth this afternoon, winning 48-25.
Just two minutes into the match, Bethan put in a perfectly-timed kick and Kim won the race for the ball.
And when hooker Jett Hayward broke the defence and off-loaded to Kim, she had a double within seven minutes.
Jett, the American import who was left out of the USA Rugby World Cup Squad, charged off the back of a lineout drive for the third try.
Bethan then found space and linked with Kim to grab a hat-trick.
The home side scored two tries late in the first-half to trail 26-15 at the break.
But the second spell was barely underway when a big cut out pass from Bethan gave Kim her fourth try.
Bethan then burst clear from inside her own half and, you guessed it, linked with Kim for a fifth five pointer.
Deservedly Bethan claimed the side’s seventh try, in the 68th minute, stepping and spinning close to the line to score.
Jett slipped a great ball to flanker Luisa Tafia, who ran in from 40 metres out to complete the Mako scoring.
The Naki scored two late tries but again could not convert them and it was Tasman winning 48-25.
The side will return to Trafalgar Park next Saturday afternoon to host Otago.