The hole is getting deeper for Tasman after a third successive national provincial championship loss tonight.
They went down 23-32 to Counties-Manukau at home in Blenheim to remain the only winless team through three rounds of the competition.
Two classy tries to left wing Ahsee Tuala boosted Counties-Manukau's stocks, the second midway through the second half a tribute to his athleticism and sense of balance as he employed a balletic dive to ensure a touchdown when the cover defence threatened to force him into touch.
It came just seven minutes after speedy fullback Sherwin Stowers scored off an inside ball from first five-eighth Tasesa Lavea and lifted Counties-Manukau out to a 25-16 lead with a quarter remaining.
Stowers bagged a double as well, his second 5min from fulltime putting the result beyond doubt after Tasman gave themselves chances through field position but lacked the finishing touches until Mitchell Scott was put across in the left-hand corner little more than 2min from the end.
Earlier, the first half had been a largely ordinary affair save for two pieces of high skill, one of them individualistic and the other a team affair, which resulted in tries to both side.
Counties-Manukau had the upperhand in the early exchanges as they earned a 10-3 lead midway through the spell following an electric start when Tuala crossed the tryline after only 43 seconds.
That came after Tasman botched their receipt of the kickoff and Counties-Manukau halfback Augustine Pulu skipped around the side of a ruck and nonchalantly bust through two ineffective defenders before offloading for Tuala to score.
Lavea and Tasman skipper Andrew Goodman then traded penalties before the home side slowly worked their way into the contest.
They increased their intensity in the collision area to ask questions of Counties-Manukau and drew level 13 minutes before the halftime interval when lock Joe Wheeler was spoon fed a fine team try.
It had its origins in a turnover won by Jonathan Poff before prop Fai Mika stormed through a midfield hole for Robbie Malneek to act as a link man and send Wheeler to the line unopposed.
