The Lions were left to rue ill-disipline and handling errrors against a passionate and committed home side who led 14-12 at halftime and kept their noses in front throughout the second half.

In a tense finish, the Lions scored a late try to close the deficit to within five points and pressed hard at the death for a match winner. But the Turbos secured their victory with the last act of the game with a runaway intercept try to replacement midfielder Asalei Tikoirotuma.

Earlier, the Lions had outscored the Turbos two tries to one in the opening 40 minutes, but three penalties to Manawatu first five-eighth Isaac Thompson put them in front at the break.

Lions lock Jeremy Thrush thwarted the first scoring opportunity of the match with a try saving tackle on the line on his opposite Michael Fitzgerald after a break in the midfield by Francis Bryant.

The home side were awarded a 5-metre scrum and from the next play former Wellington player Shannon Paku dived in to score a try inside the right hand corner. First five-eighth Isaac Thompson missed the conversion but the home side led 5-0 inside as many minutes.

Manawatu continued to probe inside Lions territory over the next 10 minutes and were rewarded with a Thompson penalty that extended the lead to 8-0.

The Lions rumbled forward from an attacking scrum, won a penalty, took a quick tap and debutant centre Tajhon Mailata flashed over for a try in reply. First five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili couldn't bring his conversion around between the poles and the score stood at 8-5 with a quarter of the game played.

After missing an ambitious long-range penalty, Thompson kicked one from in front to extend the lead to 11-7 after 26 minutes.

The Lions scored next and hit the lead for the first time with a great chasing try to left wing Alipati Leiua, following up a kick ahead by Shaun Treeby and regathering a bouncing ball off the hands of Paku to cross untouched. Fili's conversion extended the lead to 12-11.

Manawatu regained the lead with Thompson's third penalty a minute out from halftime.

Down to 14 players early in the second half, with flanker Scott Fuglistaller sinbinned for repeated team infringements, the Lions conceded a second try to the home side to centre Hadleigh Parkes. Parkes stormed through to score in a determined run to the line. Thompson added the extras for a 10-point lead.

Manawatu supporters thought their team was in again when left wing Lote Raikabula intercepted a Lions pass near halfway and set sail for the tryline. But he was called back for being offside and Fili lined up an unsuccessful long-range penalty.

Second five-eighth Bryant busted the line and Raikabula continued the forward momentum inside the Lions' 22 to set up another Turbos try out wide to lock Fraser Stone, putting them further ahead at 26-13 after 60 minutes.

The Lions remained patient and after a concerted build-up by the forwards Savea scored his sixth try of the competition, bursting through a ruck from close range. Fili added the extras to close the gap to a seven-point margin with 15 minutes on the clock.

A mistake at the back led to a further Manawatu penalty chance and Thompson kicked the three points to re-extend their lead to 29-19 after 72 minutes.

With the clock fast winding down, the Lions counterattacked through Treeby up the grandstand touchline. Treeby drew the last defender and passed inside to Mailata who scored his second and Wellington's bonus point try. With just two minutes remaining, the score was now 29-24 to Manawatu.

Desperate for a fulltime clincher, the Lions attacked from halfway, but replacement Manawatu player Asalei Tikoirotuma intercepted a pass and scampered away to seal Manawatu's first win of the 2010 ITM Cup and their first NPC/ITM Cup victory over Wellington in 28 years and 11 outings.

Overall, Saturday's clash was the 18th meeting between the Lions and Manawatu in the ITM Cup/NPC since their first in 1976. Manawatu has now won four and Wellington 14.

The Lions play Auckland at Eden Park next Saturday night in round seven of the ITM Cup.

Scores:

Vodafone Wellington Lions 24
Tries: Tajhon Mailata 2, Alapati Leiua, Julian Savea
Conversions: Fa'atonu Fili 2

Manawatu 36
Tries: Shannon Paku, Hadleigh Parkes, Fraser Stone, Asalei Tikoirotuma
Conversions: Isaac Thompson, Craig Clare
Penalties: Isaac Thompson 4

HT: Manawatu 14-12

The scoring action (by minute):

4th^: Shannon Paku try. Manawatu 5-0

18th^th: Isaac Thompson penalty. Manawatu 8-0

20^th: Tajhon Mailata try. Manawatu 8-5

27^th: Isaac Thompson penalty. Manawatu 11-5

32^nd: Alapati Leiua try. Manawatu 11-10

33^rd: Fa'atonu Fili conversion. Lions 12-11

40^th: Isaac Thompson penalty. Manawatu 14-12

46^th: Hadleigh Parkes try. Manawatu 19-12

47^th: Isaac Thompson conversion. 21-12

59^th: Fraser Stone try. Manawatu 26-12

64th: Julian Savea try. Manawatu 26-17

65^th: Fa'atonu Fili conversion. Manawatu 26-19

72^nd: Isaac Thompson penalty. Manawatu 29-19

79^th: Tajhon Mailata try. Manawatu 29-24

82^nd: Asalei Tikoirotuma try. Manawatu 34-24

83^rd: Craig Clare conversion. Manawatu 36-24

The Vodafone Wellington Lions Team was:

1. Jacob Ellison Replaced by David Te Moana (68^th minute)
2. Ged Robinson Replaced by Motu Matu'u (60^th minute)
3. John Schwalger
4. Jeremy Thrush
5. Mark Reddish Replaced by Faifili Levave (60^th minute)
6. Victor Vito
7. Scott Fuglistaller Replaced by Dean Brundson (73^rd minute)
8. Rodney So'oialo
9. Alby Mathewson Replaced by Ruki Tipuna (78^th minute)
10. Fa'atonu Fili
11. Alapati Leiua
12. Shaun Treeby
13. Tajhon Mailata
14. Julian Savea
15. Apoua Stewart Replaced by Lima Sopoaga (69^th minute)

Reserves

16. Motu Matu'u
17. David Te Moana
18. Faifili Levave
19. Dean Brunsdon
20. Ruki Tipuna
21. Lima Sopoaga
22. Buxton Popoalii