News
| Vodafone Wellington Lions hold off Waikato at Westpac Stadium |
|
The Vodafone Wellington Lions earned a well-deserved 26-14 ITM Cup round four win over Waikato at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night. Three decisive tries and staunch defence was the formula for the Vodafone Wellington Lions to win their third match and cement their position in the top half of the competition after the opening month. The Lions scored two first half tries, to right wing Julian Savea and lock Daniel Ramsay, before adding a third in the second half, to hooker Dane Coles and converted by first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili. Waikato answered with a try to openside flanker Jack Lam early in the second half, adding to three first half penalties to first five-eighth Trent Renata. Lam's 45th minute try narrowed the Lions' 16-9 halftime lead to just two points, but Coles' try and a 62nd minute penalty to Fili put the result out of reach for the Mooloo men.
Earlier, Waikato first five-eighth Trent Renata opened the scoring in the second minute with the first of three first half penalties from five attempts, to put his side ahead 3-0. From the re-start the Lions won possession and swung on to the offensive, first through lock Ramsay and then through left wing Hosea Gear. From the next play they were awarded a penalty and first five-eighth Fili put the Lions on the board. Renata's second penalty two minutes later had Waikato back in the lead at 6-3. A kick ahead by Fili from a scrum deep inside Lions territory had the Waikato defenders scrambling behind their goalposts to prevent the game's first try as Fili and second five-eighth Charlie Ngatai poured through on attack, before Savea broke the line at pace from a separate play and created further pressure on the visitors. The Lions swung the ball across Waikato's posts both ways before Fili potted a dropped goal to even up the scores at 6-6 after 14 minutes. A sweeping attacking passage up field by Waikato was snuffed out by strong Lions defence, ending with Renata missing a third penalty from in front. Fili gave the Lions field position with a kick into the corner, forcing a defensive Waikato lineout. Their throw-in wasn't straight and the Lions won an attacking scrum inside the 22. Several thrusts at the chalk were averted as Waikato won a relieving penalty on their tryline. Keeping the pressure on, Fili plugged the other corner, Waikato hooker Aled de Malmanche threw a second consecutive wayward throw into the set piece and the Lions won another scrum in prime position. Fili attempted a second dropped goal attempt but it flew wide and another chance for points was missed. In reply, Renata stepped up from 40 metres and kicked his third penalty, which put Waikato ahead 9-6 on the half hour mark. But the Lions struck back in style through Savea, who got the ball on the halfway line in broken play, brushed off the first defender, Renata, and sliced through two more in a menacing run to the line for the opening try. Fili couldn't convert the difficult conversion but the Lions now held sway at 11-9. Lock Ramsay scored a second significant try before the break, after a short burst from Savea off a scrum 40 metres out, followed by a strong bust up the middle of the ruck by No. 8 Faifili Levave. Levave was dragged down short but Ramsay was the next player in support and he galloped clear to score the try. Fili's conversion again went wide as the Lions now led 16-9 heading towards halftime. Renata had a fifth penalty attempt with the last act of the first half, but couldn't close the seven-point deficit as the players departed for the sheds. Waikato hit back with their first try five minutes into the second spell through openside flanker Lam who burrowed over following an attacking scrum. The run of played remained tense over the next 10 minutes as both teams played an expansive game and sought opportunities. Lions hooker Dane Coles was the first to break through, sprinting on to a short pass by Alby Mathewson and evading three defenders in an explosive run to the tryline. Fili kicked the conversion to put the Lions ahead 23-14 with just under 25 minutes remaining. Bloodbin substitution Alapati Leiua thought he had scored the Lions' fourth try when he pounced on a wild Waikato clearing pass under their posts and crossed the line, but referee Pollock called play back for an earlier knock-on. This move originally came from a lovely Mathewson run that split the defence. Wellington kept up the pressure and Fili kicked another penalty that extended the lead to 26-14 after 62 minutes. Threatening attack then turned to staunch defence over much of the final quarter, as Waikato were kept out in a close-range foray and then replacement winger Tim Mikkelson was tipped into touch in the corner in the process of running in what would have been an opportunist try from broken play. Waikato left winger Dwayne Sweeney missed a penalty and the Lions held out another close-quarter raid as the clock wound down to just under several minutes remaining. The Visiting team broke out again from deep inside their territory through a kick and regather by centre Save Tokula, but Hosea Gear ended this chance with a booming tackle and turnover. The Lions counterattacked once more, searching for a fourth and bonus point try, but were beaten to the punch by the final hooter. This match was the 33rd ITM Cup/NPC fixture between Wellington and Waikato since their inaugural ITM Cup/NPC meeting in 1976. the Lions have now won 19 and Waikato 14.
Wellington's record in all NPC matches against Waikato in Wellington is now played 14, won 11 and Lost 3. The Vodafone Wellington Lions return home to Westpac Stadium next Saturday to play Northland in round five of the ITM Cup, kick-off 5.30pm.
Scores:
Vodafone Wellington Lions 26 (Julian Savea, Daniel Ramsay, Dane Coles tries; Fa'atonu Fili conversion, 3 penalties) Waikato 14 (Jack Lam try; Trent Renata 3 penalties). Ht: 16-9
The scoring action (by minute):
2nd: Trent Renata penalty. Waikato 3-0 4th: Fa'atonu Fili penalty. Lions 3-3 7th: Trent Renata Penalty. Waikato 6-3 14th: Fa'atonu Fili dropped goal. Lions 6-6 30th: Trent Renata penalty. Waikato 9-6 32nd: Julian Savea try. Lions 11-9 38th: Daniel Ramsay try. Lions 16-9 45th: Jack Lam try. Lions 16-14 56th: Dane Coles try. Lions 21-14 57th: Fa'atonu Fili conversion. Lions 23-14 62nd: Fa'atonu Fili penalty. Lions 26-14 The Vodafone Wellingtons team was:
Reserves
|