Mako HP side hold off Cook Island team

While there was plenty of youth on show, it was an old head leading the way as the Mako High Performance XV squeaked past the Cook Islands in Nelson today.

Skipper Quentin MacDonald's efforts proved instrumental in the local side's 31-24 win, which also saw the debuts of exciting young prospects Taya Brown, Macca Springer and Viliami Na'apa.

“It was our first game together as a group and a lot of the boys were playing their first game in the jersey, so it was good to get a hit out against a spirited Cook Islands team,” said Quentin.

The hosts were made to work hard for the victory and required a last-minute try to stave off the fierce challenge of the Cook Islanders.

Though a number of bone-rattling hits kept the crowd entertained, both sides were guilty of frequent handling errors.

“It was pretty physical, but we let ourselves down with a bit of skill execution,” added Quentin.

He said the debutants impressed in their first outing for a Tasman team, with Na'apa scoring the match-winning try right on full-time.

“As an older man to see these younger fellas coming through is awesome.”

The 89-cap Mako even got over the line for a brace of tries, proving there is plenty of life left in the 32-year-old tank.

“A couple of cheeky dots but I didn’t have to run too far. I made a couple of breaks, but I was a bit too slow to get there.”

Originally planned for Trafalgar Park, the match was moved to Tahuna due to heavy rain over the past few days.

The boggy conditions proved a hindrance as both sides struggled to control possession.

Tasman eventually held the ball long enough to unleash Saul Lewis in space on the right flank, who seamlessly swerved in-field to evade three cover defenders and score the opening try.

MacDonald was in the thick of everything, even plucking an intercept from a lineout but he didn’t quite have the pace to go all the way.

However, his next touch was all class as he threw a beautiful wide pass to Amanaki Veamatahau who went in for Tasman’s second.

Allan Toki burrowed over from halfback to open the visitors' account before the Cooks struck from inside its own half to take the lead right on the break, fullback Te Puhi Rudolph finishing off a super team effort.

It didn’t take long for the Mako XV to reclaim the advantage, MacDonald sneaking his way over for a second to take a 10-point lead as Tasman cleared its bench.

The Cook Islands kept coming back though and got right back in the hunt when winger Matamanea Matapakia showed slick footwork to go in the corner.

Davie Mato had only been on the field for 30 seconds when he went over to even the ledger again at 24-all.

It took some individual brilliance to put Mako back in front as Viliami Na’apa, fresh out of Marlborough Boys' College, answered the call, the blockbusting number eight’s storming run breaking Cook Island hearts right at the death.

Scorers: Mako XV 31 (Lewis, Vaematahau, MacDonald 2, Na’apa, tries, Parata 2 con) Cook Islands 24 (Toki, Rudolph, Matapakia, Mato, tries, Sopoaga 2 cons).