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| Lions roar late against Taniwha |
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The Vodafone Wellington Lions grabbed a thrilling 31-28 victory over Northland in a free-flowing ITM Cup round five match at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night. After trailing the Taniwha throughout the match, The Lions secured their fourth win of the season when loosehead prop John Schwalger burrowed over for a converted try in the 76th minute after an attacking 5-metre scrum. Lions supporters then had their hands on their hearts in the 80th minute as Northland fullback Lachlan Munro pushed a penalty opportunity to the right of the uprights that would have tied the scores up. The Lions had previously scored two quickfire converted tries in the second half to claw back a 10-25 halftime deficit to 24-25 with 15 minutes remaining. After scoring two unconverted tries in the first half, to centre Shaun Treeby and blindside flanker Victor Vito, right wing Julian Savea and Vito (again) scored in the 56th and 59th minutes to set up the thrilling finish. In a fast-paced game played at breakneck speed, Schwalger's match winner scored through the forwards in close quarter play went against the previous pattern of the contest, but was a hugely welcome one for Lions players and supporters alike.
The visitors had earlier set the tone of the match, making a flying start and opening the scoring in the fifth minute when right winger Rene Ranger scorched through a midfield hole and set up a long-range try to second five-eighth Aaron Bancroft. Fullback Lachlan Munro was unable to convert, but he extended his side's lead to 8-0 with a 35-metre penalty in the 15th minute. From the next re-start, Northland first five-eighth David Holwell dropped the ball, forcing a Lions attacking scrum inside the 22. In his 50th game for Wellington, halfback Alby Mathewson surged towards the line but was dragged down short and Northland conceded a penalty and another scrum. This time off the set-piece, captain and No. 8 Rodney So'oialo flung a wide pass out to centre Shaun Treeby who picked up a bouncing ball, spun around and raced in for a try. First five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili couldn't add the extras from wide out but the Lions trailed 5-8 with a quarter of the game gone. Munro landed another penalty, before the Northlanders flashed in for their second try off another Ranger break. Counterattacking from deep inside their own territory, right wing Ranger dashed up the lefthand touchline before handing a pass to blindside Dean Budd in support who raced another 20 metres to score the try. Munro's conversion pushed Northland out to an 18-5 lead in the 25th minute. The Lions answered with their second try in style five minutes later, through a combination of patience and precision after setting up ruck ball inside the attacking zone. Right winger Savea burst towards the line and offloaded in the tackle for blindside flanker Vito to score in the corner. Again, Fili was unable to convert from a difficult angle and the score stood at 18-10 to Northland. The Taniwha were able to surge ahead again to take a 25-10 lead, with their third try and Dean Budd's second coming from a Lions mistake on their own scrum feed. The ball spat out the side for Budd to collect, kick and chase and then follow up to eventually smoke in for another try that was sparked up on his own side of halfway. The Lions finished off the first half with promise and were unlucky not close the deficit after the hooter had sounded following strong bursts by centre Shaun Treeby, Fili and replacement second five-eighth Alapati Leuia, now on for Charlie Ngatai. Following the halftime refreshments, the match continued to be played at a fast pace, both sides intent on playing expansively and feeding their outside backs. The Lions missed with two early chances to close the score, through a Fili penalty that hit the uprights and a stab kick into the in-goal after a long build up that led to a 22 re-start for Northland.
Awarded a penalty 15 metres from Northland's tryline, the Lions opted for another scrum and scored through Savea, on the right hand blindside after a So'oialo pass from the base of the set piece. Fili nailed the conversion to close the gap to 25-17 after 57 minutes. They then closed to within a point after scoring the try of the match from a wonderful counterattack from deep inside their 22, turning a frantic defensive situation into a sublime attacking one. The move started with Northland centre and skipper Jared Payne following up his own kick and chase and putting pressure on Fili clearing up at the back. But Fili evaded two tacklers and offloaded to Jeremy Thrush in support near the sideline. Thrush found left wing Hosea Hear, who raced ahead and in turn found Vito who scored his second try at the end of the 70 metre movement. Fili converted the Lions' bonus point try to make it 25-24 Munro edged Northland ahead to 28-24 with his third penalty, setting up the drama-filled final 15 minutes.
The win for the Lions was their 21st win in 26 ITM Cup encounters against Northland since 1976 and their 12th win in 14 ITM Cup games at home in Wellington against them. Schwalger's match winner was also Wellington's 100th ITM Cup in matches against Northland. The Lions have now scored four or more tries in each of its last seven ITM Cup matches against Northland. The Vodafone Wellington Lions meet Manawatu in round six of the ITM Cup next Saturday afternoon in Palmerston North.
Scores: Vodafone Wellington Lions 31 (Victor Vito 2, Shaun Treeby, Julian Savea, John Schwalger, tries; Fa'atonu Fili 3 con). Northland Taniwha 28 (Dean Budd 2, Aaron Bancroft tries; Lachie Munro 3 pen, 2 con). Halftime: 10-25.
The scoring action (by minute):
5th: Aaron Bancroft try. Northland 5-0 15th: Lachlan Munro penalty. Northland 8-0 19th: Shaun Treeby try. Northland 8-5 22nd: Lachlan Munro penalty. Northland 11-5 23rd: Dean Budd try. Northland 16-5 24th: Lachlan Munro conversion. Northland 18-5 28th: Victor Vito try. Northland 18-10 33rd: Dean Budd try. Northland 23-10 34th: Lachlan Munro conversion. Northland 25-10 56th: Julian Savea try. Northland 25-15 57th: Fa'atonu Fili conversion. Northland 25-17 59th: Victor Vito try. Northland 25-22 60th: Fa'atonu Fili conversion. Northland 25-24 65th: Lachlan Munro penalty. Northland 28-24 76th: John Schwalger try. Lions 29-28 77th: Fa'atonu Fili conversion. Lions 31-28
The Vodafone Wellington Lions team was:
1. John Schwalger
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