Northland 20
Tasman 17
Northland scored 10 points in the final 10 minutes to beat Tasman in Blenheim today, the boot of Ash Moeke again proving crucial.
Northland had controlled a scrappy first half at Landsdowne Park but a Makos revival after the break swung the match in their favour. The Taniwha looked resigned to defeat when 17-10 down and Tasman growing in confidence but a piece of brilliance from wing Mateo Malupo, who scored an incredible individual effort from 40m, allowed Northland to equalise.
A long-range Moeke penalty would have handed Northland the lead but was just wide, however the first-five made no mistake from in front with a minute remaining - flanker Gary Redmond the villain for Tasman when he hooked the ball with his foot when offside at a ruck.
Billed as the entertainers in this championship division, Tasman looked like a team reading too many of their reviews and they turned in a mistake-ridden, over-ambitious first 40 minutes which left them with a 10-3 deficit at halftime. It may have been too that their third game in a week was taking its toll.