Sat, Sep 12, 2020 8:15 PM

Mako kick off season in style

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Jonty Dine

The Tasman Mako has kicked off its defence of the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership in strong fashion with a 41-24 over Counties Manukau in Pukekohe.

It was a patchy performance at times but with so much class in the ranks the Steelers never really threatened the defending champions.

Tasman's star laden backline shone with Will Jordan justifying his All Blacks selection with a superb display from the back.

The pack was not to be out-performed as the powerful Mako forwards ensured a dominant win to kick off the 2020 campaign.

Led by former All Black skipper Kieran Read, Counties were brave in defeat, providing plenty of resilience in the second half, but Tasman held strong in front of the 400-max crowd.

The Mako didn’t take long to strike with Andrew Makalio dotting down with less than five gone on the back of a perfect rolling maul.

Makalio repeated the dose soon after as the Mako forward pack asserted its dominance.

A contentious third came as Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta went in with the TMO judging Alex Nankivell’s earlier touch to have gone backwards.

Potu Leavasa pulled one back for Counties before Dalton Papali’I reduced the margin to just four at halftime.

The Mako set piece began to fail but the backs would stamp their mark shortly after the break.

There was no question surrounding Tasman’s bonus point try when Leicester Faingaanuku strolled over following a typically surging break by Jordan.

Mitchell Hunt stretched the lead to 17 with consecutive penalties before All Black flanker Shannon Frizell put the result beyond doubt.

Replacement Viliami Taulani scored a late consolation but Tasman took the full five points from the round one fixture.

Next week sees the Mako host Northland in Blenheim.

Scorers:

Tasman 41 (Makalio 2, Cirikidaveta, Faingaanuku, Frizell tries, Hunt 5 cons, 2 pens) Counties Manukau 24 (Leavasa, Papali’I, Taulani tries, Kerr 3 cons, 1 pen)

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