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The Tasman Mako got their American tour off to a winning start as they defeated the Houston SaberCats 29-19 at AVEVA Stadium on Saturday evening. Despite conceding numerous penalties and two yellow cards, the visitors outscored their hosts four tries to three in a spirited encounter.
A cheeky training ground move from a lineout resulted in the first try. Sam Matenga wrapped around the short side to clatter over and give the Mako an early lead. Campbell Morgan-Parata’s conversion attempt drifted just wide of the right upright.
The backline got in on the act next as Jamie Spowart was given the ball in space, the New Zealand u20 graduate scorching through a gap to cruise in under the sticks. This time the extras were routine and the scoreboard read 12-0.
Houston finally got on the board near the half-hour mark. Tiaan Loots went short side on a broken play and crashed through two defenders to score a try in his SaberCats debut. Not to be outdone, Tim Cadwallader touched down on the end of a driving maul after Matenga was binned for team infringements. Sam Windsor converted both scores to give the home side a 14-12 lead at the intermission.
An ill-advised Windsor offload handed a free pass to Caleb Coventry for a seven-pointer early in the second half. More penalties tested the patience of the referee and a yellow was soon brandished with second row Tim Sail sent to the sidelines. Coventry was fortunate a TMO was not present, earning a penalty for a head-high shoulder tackle on Zach Pangelinan that could well have earned a red card.
The SaberCats couldn’t take advantage of the extra body and instead it was Sam Briggs who landed a penalty goal. A reply came quickly, however, as Diego Magno burrowed in from close range after the Uruguayan had earlier set the move in motion with a strong break from the base of a scrum.
Another score against the run of play sealed the result. With the SaberCats pressing, replacement No8 Mathew Faoagali had the ball ripped clean from his hands by Briggs. The flyhalf stepped on the gas and stepped past three would-be tacklers for a classy individual finish from well beyond halfway.
The match in its entirety can be seen here.
Next up for the Mako is a trip to Seattle where they meet the Seawolves on Sunday, January 26. Houston will be in action the day before as they host the NOLA Gold on Saturday.
SCORING
HOUSTON 19
Tries – T. Loots (29’), T. Cadwallader (35’), D. Magno (63’)
Cons – S. Windsor 2/3 (30’, 36’)
TASMAN 29
Tries – S. Matenga (8’), J. Spowart (23’), C. Coventry (42’), S. Briggs (68’)
Cons – C. Morgan-Parata 1/2 (24’), S. Briggs 2/2 (43’, 69’)
Pens – S. Briggs 1/2 (59’)
Yellow cards – S. Matenga (31’), T. Sail (46’)
TEAMS
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo, 2 Gabe Romero, 3 Charlie Connolly, 4 Kyle Breytenbach, 5 Victor Comptat, 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Diego Magno, 9 De Wet Roos (capt.), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Matías Freyre, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Max Tacket, 14 Zach Pangelinan, 15 Osea Kolinisau
Replacements: 16 Tim Cadwallader, 17 Boyd Wiggins, 18 Charlie Hewitt, 19 Mathew Faoagali, 20 Tim Stanfill, 21 Jake Christmann, 22 Kieran Farmer, 23 Zachary Short, 24 Zack Godfrey
TASMAN MAKO
1 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 2 Max Fraine, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 6 Jacob Norris (capt.), 7 Braden Stewart, 8 Isaiah Miller, 9 Louie Chapman, 10 Campbell Morgan-Parata, 11 Rahiri Witehira, 12 Michael Stringer, 13 Caleb Coventry, 14 Nick Foxley, 15 Jamie Spowart
Replacements: 16 Sam Lane, 17 Quinn Harrison-Jones, 18 Matt Graham-Williams, 19 Hopoate Taufa, 20 Max Hicks, 21 Connor Higgins, 22 Tim Sail, 23 Mitchell Barry, 24 Sam Briggs, 25 Jan Lammers, 26 Saul Lewis, 27 Taine Robinson
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
