Shield defended despite adversity

The Tasman Mako battled adversity through injury and a strong Wellington Lions side to prevail 28-15 at Lansdowne Park this afternoon, retaining the Ranfurly Shield in their first defence.

Their unrelenting defence and ability to score at key moments saw them through, despite the odds looking stacked against them at some stages.

Within minutes of kick-off Tasman suffered a major blow, losing their captain and lineout ace Quinten Strange with a shoulder injury, the versatile Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta entering the fray.

However, the home side, buoyed by a sell-out crowd, struck first. A Ruben Love grubber kick near halfway rebounded from a Tasman leg, the home side quickest to react down the right-hand side. Flanker Sione Havili Talitui threw the defence a dummy and when the ball found its way to Tavatavanawai the crowd roared their favourite home. Campbell Parata missed the conversion.

Wellington immediately replied but were denied their first points when winger Julian Savea’s foot grazed the sideline as the Lions looked to have scored with a clever inside pass.

The Mako suffered another major blow soon after, veteran hooker Quentin MacDonald leaving the ground, replaced by Sam Moli.

As a consequence of losing their thrower and shot-caller, the Mako lineout fell to pieces, going 0-5 in a row until the halftime break enabled them to regroup.

Despite their set piece woes Tasman added to their score, Parata booting a close range penalty to give the home side an 8-0 lead.

Wellington came close to scoring soon after, fullback Love held up over the line by flanker Tim Sail, before first five Jackson Garden Bachop opened the score for the capital crew, booting a penalty three minutes before oranges.

Parata added a second penalty seven minutes after the break before the Lions stormed back to bag their first five-pointer. After some slick build-up play, replacement winger Tjay Clarke was given space on the right to race over and make Garden Bachop’s conversion easier, narrowing the deficit to one point.

Again, Tasman surged onto attack, maintained possession despite lineout  inaccuracies and, when a penalty was awarded 5m out, halfback Finlay Christie darted over.

However, the challengers again replied quickly, Riley Higgins latching onto a Garden Bachop kick through to score on the right.

With both tries being unconverted, the scoreline again closed to a single point with 10 to go.

The next scoring play was always going to be vital and it came the home side’s way. A dominant scrum provided impetus, then Havili flung a long pass to Kyren Taumoefolau on the left wing and the Tongan international turned on the afterburners to fly over in the corner. Parata converted to give Tasman a 23-15 lead.

Tasman capped a superb effort with a cross field kick from Parata for replacement Nic Sauira who scored in the corner to send the home crowd away delighted.

Defence was the order of the day, Tasman tackling their hearts out against a well-drilled, powerful, table-topping side, the Mako picking up a bonus point for four tries and, more importantly, defending the prized Log o’ Wood.

Scores: Tasman 28 (Timoci Tavatavanawai, Finlay Christie, Kyren Taumoefolau, Nic Sauira tries, Campbell Parata 2 pen, con) Wellington 15 (Tjay Clarke, Riley Higgins tries, Jackson Garden Bachop pen, con). HT: 8-3 Tasman.