Mako win top team

The Tasman Mako has had its historic run of success marked with the Top South Media Sports Team of the Year award.

Following back-to-back NPC premierships, the Mako was acknowledged for its two titles at the ASB Nelson Sports Awards this evening.

Skipper Mitch Hunt it was a nice surprise to be recognised and praised the community for contributing to the side's success.

"What's great about this union is the history is so shallow that guys our age have seen the growth."

Mitch says the culture at the club is second to none.

"There is now a pretty big group of home-based players which have that passion you cant get elsewhere playing for your home town."

It began with a fairytale season, an unbeaten run to an inaugural premiership title in 2019.

The Mako followed this up with a gritty effort against a highly-favoured Auckland side to go back-to-back last season.

However, a third consecutive crown has eluded the side in a season where the squad was ravaged by injury and depleted through All Blacks duty.

It had been a long road to the top for Tasman, after facing financial ruin just a few years ago to the kings of provincial rugby.

Tasman won its second Mitre 10 Cup premiership after edging out Auckland in a thriller at Eden Park in November 2020.

The Mako won a ferocious, stop-start contest, having to defend for all they were worth in the final stages as the home side threw everything into attack.

But hold on they did to earn a famous win, backing up their 2019 clean sweep.

The second triumph though was harder earned, the Mako having to deal with a string of high-profile defections in the off season, plus the loss of home advantage.

They also lost playmaker Mitch Hunt to injury in the early stages of the premiership decider.

However, as they have done so often recently, Tasman found the resilience and fighting spirit to find the way to victory.

At half time Tasman led 10-9, Auckland landed their fourth penalty to take a 12-10 lead before skipper David Havili stepped up to land an angled penalty, clinching the deal with 10 minutes to go.