You might have expected a wet Thursday at Eden Park to yield only dour rugby and a dearth of tries.
You would have been badly wrong. Auckland and the Makos fought out an eight-try Premiership joust in which Tasman took the honours and deservedly won at this venue for the first time in their decade-long history. Both sides scored four tries apiece but Tasman's staunch defence and forward dominance stood out.
Auckland hang onto second place by the skin of their teeth, despite their third home loss in four home games, while Tasman, with a game in hand, move up into third equal position on the Premiership table. The playoffs race is on.
For a long time it looked like some porous Auckland defence and the unerring boot of 26-point hero Marty Banks - 10 from 10 - would give the Makos an historic victory. Those fears for Auckland fans were realised.
Their pack gave the home side some serious trouble and poured cold water on blazer game celebrations for Rieko Ioane and Tom McHugh.
Neither of the Ioane brothers could get their hands on the ball enough to give their side any momentum.
Auckland, who had started so well, for once, against Otago, were back to their old tricks of switching off for long patches. Tasman dominated from the get-go, No 8 Pete Samu running a direct line to take the early lead.
Auckland wing Pryor Collier finished a scorcher of a try which went through several pairs of hands, and Lolagi Visinia, on the other wing, helped himself to a double. But Auckland could never exert consistent pressure on the visitors, who benefitted from the return of flanker Shane Christie and prop Kane Hames and a defensive line that was rather more stable than that of Otago. David Havili landed a 60m penalty goal bomb.
Auckland's last regular season game is next Thursday away to Taranaki. Tasman are at North Harbour next Wednesday for a possible Ranfurly Shield challenge.
Tasman 49 (Peter Samu, Tim Perry, David Havili, Quinten Strange tries; Marty Banks 4 con, 6 pen, Havili pen) Auckland 31 (Lolagi Visinia 2, Scott Scrafton, Pryor Collier tries; Simon Hickey 4 con, pen) HT: 24-23 Auckland