Rugby: Tasman clinch playoff place

Jimmy Cowan had an outstanding all-round game as Tasman edged Otago. Photo / Getty

Tasman 32
Otago 24

Tasman continued their remarkable rise in the ITM Cup today, edging Otago 32-24 to seal a place in the Premiership playoffs.

The Makos were promoted after emerging on top of last season's second tier and they have never looked out of place, grabbing their sixth win to solidify a spot inside the top three.

They were almost upended by Championship strugglers Otago in Nelson but got home on the power of their forward pack and the flair of Jimmy Cowan.

The halfback is playing his first season with the province after returning from a stint overseas and on today's evidence both Tasman and the Blues - who announced Cowan's signing earlier in the month - will benefit from the veteran's presence.

Cowan was at the forefront of everything good for Tasman in the first half, helping the home side to a 14-10 lead at the break. It was an advantage that looked unlikely early as Otago dominated the opening exchanges, but the visitors were unable to convert their pressure into points as Tasman doggedly defended their line.

Otago were soon made to pay for their profligacy when Cowan, instead of attempting to match Hayden Parker's early penalty, took a quick tap and eventually popped a pass for Kieron Fonotia to grab the game's first try.

Having fallen behind despite controlling the contest, Otago quickly amended that when Jayden Spence brushed off a tackle in a rare lapse from the Tasman defence. But Cowan's class again shone through as Tasman seized the lead, making a number of clever touches before David Havili found a huge role and streaked away.

Otago again found themselves with ascendancy in the second spell, hitting the front through tries from the outstanding Hugh Blake and Sam Anderson-Heather. But Cowan levelled the game with 15 minutes to play, showing his nous to sneak across after the Tasman forwards forced their way towards the line.

That set the stage for substitute prop Ross Geldenhuys to grab the match-winner, breaking through when wave after wave of pick and go eventually wore down the defence.

Tasman 32 (Fonotia, Havili, Cowan, Geldenhuys tries; Banks 3 cons, 2 pens)
Otago 24 (Spence, Blake, Anderson-Heather tries; Parker pen, 3 cons)
HT: 14-10
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