KEY POINTS:
AIR NZ CUP
Wellington 26 Tasman 20
There was a story doing the rounds last week that, if Tasman upset Wellington and took the Ranfurly Shield yesterday, coach Todd Blackadder would take a chainsaw to it and give half to Marlborough and half to Nelson Bays.
Of course, that was before the New Zealand Rugby Union plumped to leave all 14 teams intact in the Air NZ Cup - including Tasman who had previously been under threat of oblivion. So, even if Tasman won yesterday, the Shield wouldn't disappear with them.
However, all that was rendered redundant in a nervy old Shield challenge that called to mind Wellington's previous persona - up one weekend, down the next.
Largely gone was the steel and the dash that accounted for Auckland in Wellington's decisive challenge. Instead there were fumbles and hash.
That doesn't quite pay enough homage to Tasman's grit and effort and they took it to a Wellington team looking uncomfortable in their role as holders for the first half - with some good running by the likes of Kade Poki and flanker Mark Bright.
They contested well, worried Wellington in the lineouts and committed bodies to the breakdown as Wellington's mistakes mounted and as they continued to play as individuals, without last week's cohesion.
Wellington took young first five Daniel Kirkpatrick off at half time - he made a couple of good breaks but they wanted Piri Weepu to guide them home - and he landed the goal that brought matters level at 6-6 after 53 minutes and after Tasman led 6-3 at the break.
But it was a front rower - prop Neemia Tialata - who provided a spark for Wellington. He stormed off on two runs in quick succession and, from spread ball, winger Hosea Gear slipped through the last of the Tasman defence.
Weepu was then held up over the line after a strong dab and Tasman intercepted through inspirational halfback Kahn Fotuali'i and a tryscoring chance was lost.
Fotuali'i was chopped down by the desperate cover but, from the following phases, with Tasman controlling things well, Fotuali'i drove over the line from a ruck.
Ten minutes to go, Wellington down 13-11 and a famous upset was in the offing. But Wellington got back into Gear. The winger made a dab, Fotuali'i was yellow-carded for hands in the ruck. A man down, the die cast and Wellington pressure saw Jeremy Thrust drive over before the impressive Waldrom sealed matters.
It was a brave effort by the Makos but Blackadder's chainsaw remained in the shed.
Wellington 26 (H. Gear, J. Thrush, T. Waldrom tries; D. Kirkpatrick pen, P. Weepu con, 2 pens), Tasman 20 (K. Fotuali'i, J. Marshall tries; M. Nikora 2 pen, Marshall 2 con). Halftime: 3-6.
