Mako find another way to win

Tasman found yet another way to win a rugby game in Hamilton today.

The Mako took 82 minutes to get the better of a feisty Waikato side, prevailing 27-25 thanks to a last minute 40m penalty goal from fullback/first five William Havili.

The mercurial Tongan international had missed a drop kick just minutes earlier but was given another chance to maintain his side’s unbeaten start to the NPC and he made no mistake, albeit suffering from cramp.

With Tasman making a raft of changes for this encounter, no doubt thinking ahead to their storm week and the ensuing Ranfurly Shield defences but showed they have enough depth to compete every weekend.

The Mako started slowly, conceding two early tries as the home side camped in the visitor’s 22 for much of the first quarter.

The Mooloo men were on the board within the first minute when a missed tackle from centre Levi Aumua saw Brayden Sullivan set up All Black Quinn Tupaea to scorch over the line.

Powerful first five D’Angelo Leuila converted, then scored his side’s second, carrying Tasman prop Ryan Coxon, over the line.

However, Coxon, playing his 50^th match for the Mako had the last laugh in the first spell, crashing over the Waikato line to score Tasman’s first. Havili converted, then added a penalty just before the break to close the gap to 12-10.

A blatant late tackle on first five Campbell Parata by Gideon Wrampling saw the Waikato midfielder sent to the sin bin with just a minute remaining in the half. Parata did not return necessitating a reshuffle in the Mako backline with Havili coming into pivot and Macca Springer shifting to fullback.

After halftime the Mako brought more intent and accuracy to the mix, led up front by lock Antonio Shalfoon, skipper Sione Havili Talitui, Coxon, hooker Sam Moli plus loosies Tim Sail and Johnny Lee.

Halfback Louie Chapman, standing in for a rested Finlay Christie, Aumua, winger Kyren Taumoefolau, Springer and replacement Timoci Tavatavanawai all had their moments in a topsy-turvy clash.

Within a quarter of an hour of the second spell Waikato had forged a handy lead, a penalty to Leuila and try to lock Lachlan McWhannell, converted by replacement Aaron Cruden, pushing them ahead 22-10.

Then Tasman responded in style, a Moli try at the back of a lineout drive and a touchdown to Sail, benefitting from a Tavatavanawai break and offload, both converted by Havili, moving the visitors into a 24-22 lead with seven minutes to play.

A long-range penalty by Cruden with three minutes left edged the Mooloo in front before Havili stepped up, at the second time of asking, to continue what is turning into a remarkable season for the men from the top of the south.

Scores: Tasman 27 (Ryan Coxon, Tim Sail, Sam Moli tries, William Havili 3 con, 2 pen) Waikato 25 (Quinn Tupaea, Lachlan McWhannell, D’Angelo Leuila tries, Leuila pen, con, Aaron Cruden con, pen). HT: 12-10 Waikato