Andy Ellis. Photo / Christchurch Star
There's nothing like beating the city slickers when they roll into town.
When those townies happen to be two-time defending champions and neighbours and Super Rugby 'team-mates' Canterbury, it is all the sweeter.
Yesterday Tasman achieved the upset of the season when they beat Canterbury in Nelson to achieve their
first victory over the provincial powerhouses.
It was Canterbury's first defeat of the season. While it won't hurt their campaign too much, they won't have enjoyed yesterday.
They were lethargic in the first half, and trailed 24-10 at the break, before staging a good comeback. When they drew to within two points with 12 minutes remaining, it seemed inevitible Canterbury would do what Canterbury normally do - win.
But they encountered a Tasman side who weren't in an obliging mood this time. They regrouped, sensed they could still cause an upset and tackled their hearts out.
Strangely, the red and blacks even started making errors you wouldn't normally expect from them down the stretch. They knocked the ball on, flung a couple of forward passes and took wrong options.
Tasman will take great heart from this. They have now won two of their four matches this season and will suddenly believe a place in the top seven isn't the impossibility most think it will be.
The great thing about this year's provincial competition is its closeness. Reputations count for little in 2010. A place in the top seven is the carrot and is arguably more important than the race for the title.
Tasman took command in the first half, racing to a healthy lead. Canterbury scored the game's first try through Telusa Veainu but the hosts then rattled in three tries through second five-eighth Tom Marshall, wing James Kamana and hooker Francis Smith.
Then, despite centre Robbie Fruean being sinbinned for a ruck infringement early in the second spell, the rams hit back with tries to halfback Andy Ellis and hooker Steve Fualau.
Canterbury continued to lift their intensity, stretching Tasman on the left flank before a gap was created on the right for Fualau to charge over the line in the 57th minute and all of a sudden they were back in the contest.
But aside from a long-range Slade penalty, they couldn't make any further inroads and suffered the ignominy of defeat to Little Brother.
Tasman 27 (T. Marshall, J. Kamana, F. Smith tries; S. Alfeld 2 pens, 3 cons) Canterbury 25 (T. Veainu, A. Ellis, S. Fualau tries; C. Slade 2 pens, 2 cons). HT: 24-10.
- NZPA
