VIDEO: Makos make big statement
NPC WRAP: The Tasman Mako made an emphatic early statement about their 2018 NPC Premiership aspirations with a 25-17 victory over the defending champion Canterbury in Blenheim.
Off the back of some bruising gang tackling, an authoritative No 10 display by Mitch Hunt, set-piece dominance and some fluent passing in the backs, Tasman could have won by a wider margin were it not for a late rally by the visitors, who scored two tries via replacement hooker Greg Pleasants-Tate.
But, for the majority of the match, the Tasman pack stood tall, men like hooker Andrew Makalio and lock Quinten Strange in tremendous early season form. They laid the foundation for the debutant halfback Jack Grooby, who cleared the ball swiftly and surely, while dangerman Solomon Alaimalo, debuting on the left wing, was a handful. Centre Levi Aumua, who scored the first try, put a heavy shot on Canterbury wing Braydon Ennor which typified the Mako mindset on defence.
* In the Thursday match North Harbour breathed a huge sigh of relief when holding on to claim a 21-20 crossover win over Northland in Albany.
Flyhalf Bryn Gatland might not have had the most memorable game, with too many kicks failing to find touch, but when he needed to land a vital goal, from 45 metres out and six minutes from the end, he produced the match-winner.
Scorers and scorers
North Harbour 21-20 Northland
Scorers:
For North Harbour:
Tries: Dillon Hunt, Tevita Li
Con: Bryn Hall
Pens: Bryn Gatland 3
For Northland:
Tries: Tom Robinson, Jono Kitto
Cons: Jack Debreczeni 2
Pens: Debreczeni 2
Tasman 25-17 Canterbury
Scorers:
For Tasman:
Tries: Levi Aumua, Quinten Strange, Solomon Alaimalo
Cons: Mitch Hunt 2
Pens: Hunt 2
For Canterbury:
Tries: Greg Pleasants-Tate 2
Cons: Brett Cameron 2
Pen: Cameron
Source: mitre10cup.co.nz
🏅 The Duane Monkley Medal is back for 2018 and @HarbourRugby‘s Dillon Hunt is the first player to scoop three points! #MonkleyMedal pic.twitter.com/SgLamx0cAG
— Mitre 10 Cup (@Mitre10Cup) August 16, 2018
