ITM Cup: Bonus point win for Tasman over Waikato

October 25: Tasman players line up for the national anthem during the ITM Cup Premiership Final. Photo / Getty Images

Tasman 35
Waikato 20

Not for nothing did the Tasman Makos reach the Premiership final in 2014.

They came up to Hamilton after a dusty pre-season, won the game, took the bonus points and taught this youthful yet promising Waikato side a thing or two about patience and controlling the key moments. And they had the prolific Marty Banks who slotted the goals, and punted astutely, though he did pick up a yellow card.

The groundwork was laid in the second quarter, after which they took a 17-9 lead into the sheds.

"We're stoked with the result," said Tasman skipper Shane Christie. "The first 30 minutes was a struggle for both sides, but we managed to grind them down."

Tasman scored the game's first try, a very useful one too, with a long Quentin MacDonald pass putting Liam Squire across in the corner. The second was more prosaic, yet just as effective, Christie crashing over from a lineout drive.

The first half saw a lot of nip and tuck, two sides feeling each other out in the opening round. The first scrum did not arrive until the 25th minute, while the two pivots - Damian McKenzie and Banks - kicked accurately for goal. The match was billed as the young Mooloo bucks against the gnarly Makos pack, and Tasman won that battle.

Waikato's 18-year-old fullback Shaun Stevenson, a 2014 NZ Schools rep, who was presented with his debut Mooloo jersey by his parents before the match, sliced through for his team's sole try, which hauled them back in the match when all looked lost. That came when the Makos were down to 14 men, Banks binned for a deliberate knock-down.

Seasoned halfback Jimmy Cowan came off the bench to score the bonus point try on the goalpost padding and it was mission accomplished.

Waikato prop Ben Tameifuna escaped sanction for a blatant scrag of Banks in the first stanza. In truth, both teams were guilty of discipline lapses and referee Nick Briant was quick to blow to whistle.

Waikato will prepare for a trip to Manawatu next Saturday, while Tasman will host Bay of Plenty in Nelson next Friday night.

Tasman 35 (Liam Squire, Shane Christie, Peter Samu, Jimmy Cowan tries; Marty Banks 3 con, 3 pen) Waikato 20 (Shaun Stevenson try; Damian McKenzie 5 pen) Halftime: 17-9