Feel the Frenzy
From the opening kick-off, Tavatavanawai set the tone with a surging run into the heart of the home side’s defence from where Willi Havili landed his first penalty.
Exiting clinically, Tasman soon returned and, after flanker Braden Stewart had come up just short of the tryline, prop Ryan Coxon crashed over to give the Mako an 8-0 advantage after 10 minutes.
More red-shirted pressure was to come, resulting in former Mako Hugh Renton being yellow-carded after 22 minutes, Tasman taking immediate advantage when hooker Quentin MacDonald scored off the back of a well-set lineout drive, fitting reward for a man who has taken part in every one of Tasman’s five challenges.
Hawke’s Bay then enjoyed their best period of the half, flanker Sam Smith dotting down in the corner after multiple phases and penalties, closing the gap to 13-5 as Renton returned from the bin.
However, the challengers had the final say in the first half, a penalty and dropped goal to Havili stretching the lead to 19-5, Tasman heading for the sheds perhaps feeling they may have left a few points out there given their dominance.
The Mako may have won the territory game in the first half, but the Magpies took control in the second. As the Tasman set pieces began to creak the holders struck, bringing the McLean Park faithful, so used to stirring comebacks, into the game. Replacement prop Joe Apikatoa started the recovery with a closerange effort and, although Havili landed a third penalty to stretch Tasman’s lead to 22-10 midway through the half, all the late impetus was with the Bay.
With a quarter of an hour to play, Aussie winger Ben O’Donnell dived over in the corner, Danny Toala converting and suddenly the holders were within striking distance, just five points adrift.
They continued to attack, encouraged by around 7500 supporters, minus a smattering of red-shirted Mako fans, and were finally rewarded when, after a scrum penalty, replacement winger Mat Protheroe darted over on the left to level the scores.
Although a draw would ensure the shield stayed put, Toala’s superb sideline conversion put the Magpies ahead by two with three minutes to play.
With Tasman desperate to get their hands on the ball, Hawke’s Bay ran through 10 phases as the clock ticked down. But that is a dangerous game, especially when someone as adept at jackaling as Tavatavanawai is around and when the muscular winger got his hands on the ball there was no moving him. As both sides held their collective breath, Parata landed the most important kick of his young life.
Success in such a high-stakes clash comes down to a team effort and, although Tasman had individual stand-outs such as dynamic halfback Finlay Christie, Tavatanawai and fellow wrecking ball Levi Aumua, hard-working prop Ryan Coxon, the evergreen MacDonald, inspirational skipper Quinten Strange, plus industrious loosies Tim Sail and Braden Stewart, this win was very much down to a team work ethic, especially on defence.
Desperation defence denied the Bay in the first half and regularly reduced their scoring opportunities.
They talk about “winning the small moments” and that is exactly what Tasman did, leaving them to savour winning their biggest moment of all.
Scores: Tasman 25 (Ryan Coxon, Quentin MacDonald tries, Willi Havili 3 pen, dropped goal, Campbell Parata pen) Hawke’s Bay 24 (Sam Smith, Joe Apikatoa, Ben O’Donnell, Mat Protheroe tries, Danny Toala 2 con). HT: 19-5 Tasman.
Tasman Mako team: 1 Ryan Coxon, 2 Quentin MacDonald, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Quinten Strange (c), 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 6 Tim Sail, 7 Braden Stewart, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Willi Havili, 11 Jack Gray, 12 Will Butler, 13 Levi Aumua, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15 Macca Springer. Sparkies: Sam Moli, Monu Moli, Quinn Harrison-Jones, Hunter Leppien, Johnny Lee, Louie Chapman, Campbell Parata, Kyren Taumoefolau.