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Fullback Glen Ballam outpaces the Canterbury Maori defence to score the Red Devils' first try at Lansdowne Park on Saturday.
The Tasman Red Devils finished their South Island Invitational tournament on a high note, beating Canterbury Maori 22-17 in Blenheim on Saturday.
Despite their hard-earned victory, Tasman ended up bottom of the three-team championship group, who all picked up a win apiece. Bonus points proved the key, Canterbury Maori and Southland B picking up two apiece, ending up tied on six points. Canterbury Maori will go on to play the bottom-placed premiership side in a promotion/relegation game next week courtesy of their win over the Southlanders in week one.
On Saturday, Tasman bounced back from a 14-10m halftime deficit to claim victory in a free-flowing, often helter-skelter encounter.
RICKY WILSON/STUFF
Tasman Red Devils midfielder Aisea Halo has the Canterbury Maori defence in two minds.
A dominant scrum, allied to a host of powerful ball-carriers, saw the visitors dominate much of the first spell, although Tasman scored first. Against the run of play, fullback Glen Ballam sped away to touch down under the posts after replacement lock Matt McCormick and halfback Chris Bolton made inroads into what had previously been a watertight defence.
Five minutes later, relentless Maori pressure told when flanker Tui Mika took advantage of a loose pass and panic in the home side's ranks to scamper across the line. They were in again soon after, penetrative halfback Hayden O'Donnell the scorer after Canterbury broke out from near their own line. Fullback Matt Thatcher and powerhouse No 8 Brad Hemopo provided the early impetus as the Devils' defence fell away. A second conversion to Thatcher pushed the visitors ahead 14-7 before centre Aisea Halo landed a penalty on the stroke of halftime.
A superb try to midfielder Robbie Malneek soon after the break, following a breakdown turnover by flanker Braden Stewart, put Tasman in front. Halo converted, then scored his side's third try midway through the half. This touchdown was also instigated by Stewart who took a quick tap penalty to create momentum before the ball was freed to the hard-running Halo on the left.
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Braden Stewart carries the ball, with support from replacement halfback Todd Nicholas.
Canterbury Maori got good value from their bench and continually tested the home side's defence, both through the middle and out wide. However a combination of poor handling, passing and option-taking conspired to keep them out, along with a more intense defensive line.
Finally, the Maori settled for a penalty to bring them into bonus point range, with an eye on a bigger prize. Thatcher duly obliged and both sides seemed relatively happy with the result when Malneek booted the ball into the stand to end proceedings.
Halo, Ballam, Malneek, Bolton and winger Ula Fotu were the pick of the home town backline, with loosies Stewart, Mike Curry and Jesse MacDonald enjoying a torrid battle with their opposites. McCormick and lock Sam White also carried strongly.
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Matt McCormick, Tasman Red Devils replacement lock, attempts to burst through a tackle.
Hemopo, alongside flankers Scott Kelly and Mika were constant threats with ball in hand, while skipper Nick Hyde showed the way from hooker. O'Donnell, first five Jarel Hemehema, Thatcher and winger Ashton Tuck were the best of an accomplished back division.
Next Saturday the Red Devils take on the Tasman Griffins, winners of the SI Invitational premiership, for the coveted Seddon Shield in Nelson.
Scores: Tasman Red Devils 22 (Glen Ballam, Aisea Halo, Robbie Malneek tries, Halo 2 con, pen) Canterbury Maori 17 (Tui Mika, Hayden O'Donnell tries, Matt Thatcher 2 con, pen). HT: 14-10 Canterbury Maori