Rugby: Tasman wins back-to-back Miter 10 Cup Premiership titles with close win over Auckland

Tasmania 13
Auckland 12

Tasman has defended the Miter 10 Cup title in spectacular fashion, snatching a win by one point to deny Auckland another prized crown.

David Havili proved to be an inspiring figure for his underdog side: he laid down a penalty in the 70th minute to take the lead and then won a crucial turnover to the death that effectively sealed the unexpected victory in a match that has never been started since. an attack perspective.

The finals bring a different form of tension and Auckland will regret two expensive yellow cards and their failure to score a try.

Substitute player Simon Hickey had a chance to push Auckland to the front, but when his cut goal painfully slid past the right post with three minutes to go, the anguish on his face said it all for the fans in blue and white. .

A disappointing crowd of 13,131, which would have been significantly more if the match had been organized in the afternoon, took advantage of the free attendance to fill the north stands and find their voice in the final stages.

However, it was Tasman’s fans who celebrated with the final whistle.

Tasman became the second team in Miter 10 Cup history to win successive finals, after Canterbury in 2008-2013 and 2015-2017.

It has not been a harvest year for the Mako as they lost matches to North Harbor, Canterbury and Auckland en route to the final but, when it mattered, they found the required composure at Eden Park.

The last time they were here, Tasman landed a 31-10 beating in the sixth round. They sure rectified that result.

From easy beats, once on the verge of being kicked out of the competition, to acclaimed contenders, Tasman is a success story everyone can recognize.

Auckland defended tenaciously as one man came up short to withstand multiple onslaught from Tasmania and fail to concede with defender Zarn Sullivan; it was ruled that he had intentionally scored a pass with Tasmanian wing Leicester Fainga’anuku unmarked outside of him, in the wastebasket.

But Alama Ieremia’s side couldn’t find its attacking blow.

Tasman took a major blow in the 15th minute of the first period when they lost influential playmaker Mitchell Hunt, this year’s second leading scorer, after a head collision with Auckland wing Niko Jones.

With Hunt absent, Havili came in from the backfield to appear at first receiver frequently and take on much of the tactical responsibility, including goal-kicking duties.

Auckland brought urgency and aggression to their defensive and breaking work, but their lineout was chaotic. Losing four of his own shots in the first half alone wasted several attacking opportunities, nullifying potent baseline threats like dynamic wing Salesi Rayasi, who had claimed 14 attempts in his previous eight games.

While the lineout battled the Auckland scrum, anchored by former All Blacks mainstay Angus Ta’avao, he enjoyed dominance. This area allowed Harry Plummer and Sullivan’s boot, who knocked down a 55-meter penalty at the angle, to give Auckland the ascent.

Tasman, however, finished the half strong. As they struggled to penetrate Auckland’s firm defense, Fainga’anuku continued his prominence with destructive attacks on the left edge and further down the field to put Tasman on the front foot.

The rewards came first in the form of referee Nick Briant losing patience with Auckland’s discipline to send captain Ta’avao in the trash for repeated team infractions.

From the next rolling maul, Tasmania hooker Quentin MacDonald stepped forward to open, and only, try of the match and a 10-9 lead at halftime for the visitors.

Havili’s influence, in the end, was the difference between the two teams.

Auckland 12 (3 Harry Plummer pens, Zarn Sullivan pen)
Tasmania 13 (Quentin MacDonald tries, David Havili scam, 2 pens)
HT: 9-10