BY
PETER JONES [Marlborough App]
His
High Performance side may have been beaten today, but Tasman Mako rugby coach
Leon MacDonald was generally happy with their efforts.
After
a whirlwind trip across the strait the Mako HP XV took on their Hawke’s Bay
counterparts at the Petone Rec ground and came away with a 31-22 loss.
It
was a flying visit. Following an early start this morning and a bumpy ferry
ride, the Tasman lads were on the bus immediately after the final whistle and
heading for the terminal, but MacDonald and his coaching team felt the trip was
worth the effort.
"There
was some good stuff in there.
"It
was a step up from club rugby that’s for sure. The intensity, physicality and
speed of the game was there … and some young guys got a taste for it. It was a
good game. A worthwhile exercise that’s for sure.”
The
Mako coach said young centre Nick Foxley was one to impress, along with first
five Willy Havili, halfback Ben Finau, winger Tomas Aoake, who scored twice,
plus loosie Jacob Norris.
Anty Burnett and and Jack Grooby scored Tasman’s other two tries, Havili
notching a conversion.
The
Mako began strongly against a side stacked with powerful ball carriers, but by
halftime Hawke’s Bay led 14-12 and, although Tasman scored twice more in the
second spell, the Magpies finished stronger.
With
a myriad of team changes being made to both sides, MacDonald admitted the
scoreline was basically irrelevant.
"However,
from the competitive side, we would have disappointed because we bombed a lot
of opportunities and let a couple of soft tries in, and they would probably say
the same.
"Now
it will be really good for us as coaches to sit down with our guys, especially
the younger ones, and give them some really specific work to do if they want to
play at the next level.”