All Blacks flanker Liam Squire has inspired his Mako side to a comprehensive 64-3 win over Manawatu, scoring a try and setting up two others.
The Mako have now scored 120 points and conceded 19 through the first three weeks of the Mitre 10 Cup season.
The hosts started the game with intent, producing storming runs from the outset. Quentin Strange made a dart down the left wing, which set up field position for the Mako.
Squire opened the scoring by powering his way through the Turbos defence and asserting his early physical dominance.
Tasman continued to open up the defence, but couldn't find a final pass, rueing three or four clear tryscoring opportunities, before Hugh Roach scored to take the lead to 14-3.
A well-worked move from the lineout seven minutes later saw Squire put Jordan Taufua over for the third try of the day for the hosts.
The domination continued, as they ran in two quick tries, both of which came from 80-metre counter-attacks, Finlay Christie and Jamie Spowart scoring to take the lead to 33-3 at the break.
Manawatu came out of half-time with more intent and threw the ball around fearlessly, but they were unable to break the Mako defence.
The clinical Tasman side were relentless in attack, as they made metres whenever they wanted - they won a lineout five metres out and flanker Jacob Norris scored off a rolling drive.
Will Jordan scored his first try of the match in the 65th minute - a well-deserved reward for the young fullback, after being Tasman's talisman, sparking many attacks.
Spowart scored his second with five minutes to go, finishing off a counterattack move from the hosts.
But they weren't done yet. They shifted the ball wide through a host of hands, but it fittingly fell the way of Spowart, who scored his third of the match.
That's where it finished, as the Tim O'Malley kicked the conversion to make the final score a 64-3 thrashing, sinking Manawatu to their third-straight loss.
Tasman will take on Taranaki next Sunday at Yarrow Stadium. Manwatau face Otago for the Ranfurly Shield on Friday.
Newshub.
