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Tasman will surely miss Sevu Reece and Will Jordan when they are retired from the Miter 10 Cup and in camp with the All Blacks.
The pair accounted for half of Tasman’s eight attempts in his 54-21 break against Northland at Blenheim on Friday night.
Reece had a hat-trick and Jordan also crossed in the win on bonus points, ensuring Tasman remained undefeated at Blenheim since 2015.
But both Reece and Jordan, and wing Shannon Frizell and mainstay Tyrel Lomax, might not present much more for the Mako this year, as the All Blacks head to camp next week to begin preparing for the inaugural test of the Cup. Bledisloe in three weeks.
Evan Barnes / Getty Images
Tasmania winger Sevu Reece scored three attempts against Northland at Blenheim on Friday night.
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The good news is that the reigning champions have great depth, highlighted by the return of Utility and Captain David Havili against Northland.
It was Havili’s first game since breaking his thumb midway through Super Rugby Aotearoa with the Crusaders, and he can be credited with setting up Jordan’s try with a clever cross kick to Fetuli Paea.
Evan Barnes / Getty Images
Tasmanian wing Shannon Frizell in charge against Northland at Blenheim on Friday night.
Mako were not in their clinical best, but they were still too good for Taniwha as they claimed their 14th consecutive win.
Their lineout was rough, they were guilty of being too lateral with the ball in hand during the first half, and their discipline was not flash.
However, his scrum was dominant, repeatedly marching on the visitors, courtesy of Isi Tu’ungafasi and Lomax flexing their muscles.
That set the stage for Paea to collapse early in the second half as Mako started from their 19-7 lead at halftime.
But, despite being outgunned on defense for much of the night, Northland had his moments.
Flanker Tom Robinson set Harrison Levien up with a left-hand touch run, while prop Luatangi Li dropped to end a lineout series.
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Sevu Reece has been quick to shine for Tasman in his first season with them.
But Reece, who was unable to launch into Jordan’s in-goal moments earlier, had the last laugh when he scored his third with five minutes to go.
Reece’s first was just two minutes into the game, after Jordan opened the visitors with his trademark speed.
Pivot Mitch Hunt also played a hand, putting Jordan into space, before the sleek full back fed Reece and lunged for the right flag.
Hunt also played a hand in Tasman’s second, when he knocked out Leicester wing Fainga’anuku with a cross kick.
Fainga’anuku had to work to pull it off, but he magnificently pulled the ball out of the air and landed it inside the chalk with a defender breathing down his neck.
Hooker Andrew Makalio stepped forward from close range to catch his third attempt of the young season and the win looked like half an hour away.
However, a week after eliminating an initial deficit and beating the Turbos, the Taniwha weren’t about to throw in the towel 19-0.
After five penalties, they pitched a tent inside Tasman’s 22 and flanker Kara Pryor beat herself at the halftime horn.
Tasmania 54 (Sevu Reece 3, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Andrew Makalio, Fetuli Paea, Will Jordan, Jacob Norris tries; Mitch Hunt 5 with, Tim O’Malley 2 with) Northland 21 (Kara Pryor, Harrison Levien, Luatangi Li tries; Wiseguy Faiane 3 with). HT: 19-7
MVP Points: Sevu Reece 3, Leicester Fainga’anuku 2, Will Jordan 1
