Mako maul Taniwha in Blenheim

The Tasman Mako has kicked off its Mitre 10 Cup Premiership defence in perfect fashion, taking a maximum 10 points from its opening two fixtures.

The 2019 champions were in dominant form against Northland in Blenheim tonight, dispatching the Taniwha 54-21.

A hat-trick to all Black superstar Sevu Reece was the exclamation point on an emphatic statement by Tasman.

The Mako opened the scoring through its Crusaders connection as Will Jordan put fellow All Black Reece in corner with just over two minutes gone.

The hosts struck again in the opposite corner on the back of a pinpoint cross-kick from Mitch Hunt to the waiting arms of Leicester Faingaanuku.

It was an Andrew Makalio special next as the big hooker rumbled over in trademark style as Tasman stormed to a 19-0 lead.

Northland’s Kara Pryor got his side on the board before halftime, but Fetuli Paea gave Tasman the bonus point just after the break.

The carnage continued as the inevitable Jordan try came is blistering fashion, skipper David Havili, Jordan and Faingaanuku all playing a hand in the superb movement.

Havili began to look increasingly dangerous as he again broke the Northland line and put Reece away for his second.

Replacement halfback Harrison Levien pulled one back for the Taniwha, but a rampant Mako side continued to punish the men from the far north, Jacob Norris grabbing a five pointer.

Northland refused to relent, Ben Tou nabbing a consolation before Reece, denied his hat-trick moments earlier, picked up his third try as the Mako cracked the half-century.

Next weekend sees the Mako play its first game in Nelson as they take on Waikato at Trafalgar Park on Saturday afternoon.

Scorers:

Tasman 54 (Reece 3, Faingaanuku, Makalio, Paea, Jordan, Norris tries, Hunt 5 con, O’Malley 2 con) Northland 21 (Pryor, Levien, Tou, tries, Faiane 3 con). HT: 19-7