Marist repeat as Tasman Trophy winners
“Back-to-back, back-to-back”.
The spontaneous chant rang out across a wet and windy Trafalgar Park on Saturday after a jubilant Marist side defended their Stuff Tasman Trophy title, beating Nelson 31-22.
Despite the conditions, especially in the first half when a strong northerly brought heavy rain, the two teams produced a committed, combative final.
But as they have done all season, Marist had the edge when it mattered to win their 11th game in a stellar year when their only loss was by one point to Waimea Old Boys.
Marist coach Nic Smith took the helm last year with a three-year plan to win the trophy, and said to win back-to-back titles was “pretty special”.
“Stepping into the role it was a place where the culture had to be rebuilt and you put the tools in front of these guys and it’s up to them. They’ve bought into it and made it their own, and you know they’re just good people.
“It’s rewarding as a coach seeing how they develop.”
For Nelson it was also another big step in their progress under coach Tom Marshall. The former Mako and Super rugby player has taken the oldest club in the country from a negative points total two years ago to the semi-finals last year, and the final this year.
If the young team full of gamebreaking backs and powerful forwards can stay together they will be continue to be a threat in a highly competitive tussle for top of the south supremacy.
On Saturday Nelson got off to a perfect start when captain and No 10 Fletcher Hewitt-Smart jinked through the defence in the first few minutes. But they could not take full advantage of playing with the gusty wind.
Marist struck back with two tries, including a scintillating break by Timi Sauira, who regathered the ball after not being held in a tackle and beat the cover defence on a 40m run to the line.
It helped Marist to a 15-12 lead at halftime, which Smith said was a huge bonus knowing they would have the wind at their backs.
Marist used it expertly to keep Nelson pinned in their territory for large parts of the second half. The pressure paid off when No 8 Joesph Domoni, who made destructive breaks throughout, powered through to score.
Nelson refused to give up, with the dangerous Nelesoni Malaulau scoring in the corner after Marist lock Sam Liebezeit was yellow-carded but they could not take further advantage of the extra man thanks to some strong Marist defence.
Fullback Luke Kilworth nailed two crucial penalties to take the game away and ensure Marist captain Tom Thornalley got to hold the trophy aloft again.
Thornalley said the game plan of playing into the wind in the first half after winning the toss had worked well.
“We thought if we could just weather the storm, carry hard and not kick too much and just get down there and score points then we could pin them a bit more in the second half.”
Thornalley put the team’s ability to keep winning, even in tight contests, down to a strong team culture.
“There’s a real good cohesion between players and management and it just makes it enjoyable to go out there and fight those battles for each other,” he said.
In the women’s Tasman Trophy unbeaten Kahurangi will play Waimea in the final on July 18, after Kahurangi beat Marist 30-12 and Waimea beat Moutere 60-5.
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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