In a tight match, the Vodafone Wellington Lions were undone by a late converted try scored in the corner by flanker Callum Gibbins and then a dropped goal by first five-eighth Aaron Cruden.

This try and field goal gave the Turbos their first ever victory in the ITM Cup/NPC over the Lions in Wellington and their second win over the Lions in as many years. Manawatu also retained the Coronation Cup.

Trailing 20-31, the Lions pressed hard to the end and captain and lock Jeremy Thrush scored to close the difference to within seven points.

Earlier, The Lions got off to a fast start, hooker Dane Coles crashing over in just the second minute of play after an excellent build-up involving several pairs of hands. Centre Michael Lealava'a, in his starting debut, left wing Julian Savea and blindside fanker Brad Shields were all involved before Coles crossed for his 14^th ITM Cup try.

First five-eighth Lima Sopoaga converted Coles' try and the Lions led 7-0 after three minutes.

Manawatu first five-eighth Cruden replied with a seventh minute penalty from 38 metres out, before his stab kick into the corner presented a try scoring opportunity for chasing left wing Tomasi Cama.

Cama ran on to the kick to score the try and Cruden converted to put the Turbos ahead 10-8.

The Lions re-took the lead through Coles, who ran on to a short pass from halfback TJ Peranara and sprinted 20 metres to score his second try. Sopoaga's second conversion put the Lions back in front 14-10.

Wellington lost its skipper Jeremy Thrush to the sin bin for 10 minutes for a late tackle on Cruden, who kicked his second penalty and the Turbos now trailed by just one point.

The Lions held on a spirited period of attack inside their 22 for much of the next 10 minutes, until Cruden kicked his third penalty just as Thrush returned to the field.

Sopoaga missed a difficult penalty chance from near the sideline to re-take the lead after another strong raid deep inside Turbos territory.

The Turbos struck first and extended their lead early in the second half through centre Aseli Tikoirotuna who sliced through a hole in midfield from an attacking scrum.

The Lions earned quality possession inside Manawatu's 22, leading to a penalty to Lima Sopoaga that closed the deficit to 21-17.

Centre Lealava'a went close to scoring the next try that the Lions were hunting for, running on to a long pass from fullback Jason Woodward after a concerted build-up and break up into the 22 by Sopoaga. Television replays confirmed that Lealava'a wasn't in full control grounding the ball in the left hand corner and the Turbos held on to their lead.

The Lions maintained the pressure, Sopoaga's third penalty closing Manawatu's lead to 21-20 with less than 15 minutes remaining.

However, Manawatu regrouped and attacked Wellington's line with a series of patient pick and drives close to the chalk. From one such ruck to the right of the uprights, first five-eighth Cruden ran to the blindside and fired a pass to waiting openside flanker Callum Gibbins who flew through to score a try.

Gibbins' try extended the lead to 26-20 and Cruden's ensuing sideline conversion put them out to 28-20, and the Lions now had to score twice over the final several minutes to win.

Instead, Cruden kicked a dropped goal from broken play to seal the win.

Thrush scored at the end to close the gap but the fulltime whistle was the next sound of the evening.

This was the 19^th meeting between the Lions and Manawatu in the ITM Cup/NPC since their first in 1976. Wellington has won 14 and Manawatu now five.

The Vodafone Wellington Lions return home on Thursday to host the Southland Stags, who retained the Ranfurly Shield earlier in the day by scoring a match winning try on fulltime.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day at Lyndhurst Park in Tawa, the Wellington Pride beat the Manawatu Cyclones 58-8 in round 3 of the women's NPC. The Pride outscored the Cyclones 10 tries to one and pulled clear with 43 unanswered points in the second half after leading 15-8 at halftime.

 

Scores:

Manawatu 31 (Tomasi Cama, Asaeli Tikoirotuna, Callum Gibbins tries; Aaron Cruden 3 pen, 2 con, dg) Vodafone Wellington Lions 25 (Dane Coles 2, Jeremy Thrush tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 pen, 2 con). HT: Manawatu 16-14

 

The scoring action by minute:

2^nd: Dane Coles try. Lions 5-0

3^rd: Lima Sopoaga conversion. Lions 7-0

7^th: Aaron Cruden penalty. Lions 7-3

13^th: Tomasi Cama try. Manawatu 8-7

14^th: Aaron Cruden conversion. Manawatu 10-7

17^th: Dane Coles try. Lions 12-10

18^th: Lima Sopoaga conversion. Lions 14-10

23^rd: Aaron Cruden penalty. Lions 14-13

32^nd: Aron Cruden penalty. Manawatu 16-14

46^th: Aseli Tikoirotuna try. Manawatu 21-14

51^st: Lima Sopoaga penalty. Manawatu 21-17

66^th: Lima Sopoaga penalty. Manawatu 21-20

71^st: Callum Gibbons try. Manawatu 26-20

72^nd: Aaron Cruden conversion. Manawatu 28-20

77^th: Aaron Cruden dropped goal. Manawatu 31-20

81^st: Jeremy Thrush try. Manawatu 31-25

 

The Vodafone Wellington Lions team was:

1.       Reggie Goodes Replaced by Jacob Ellison, 63^rd minute

2.       Dane Coles Replaced by Motu Matu'u, 63^rd minute

3.       Neemia Tialata Replaced by Arden David-Perrot, 63^rd mnute

4.       Jeremy Thrush (c)

5.       Mark Reddish

6.       Brad Shields

7.       Scott Fuglistaller Replaced by Dean Brunsdon, 63^rd minute

8.       Faifili Levave

9.       TJ Perenara Replaced by Frae Wilson, 72^nd minute

10.   Lima Sopoaga

11.   Julian Savea

12.   Charlie Ngatai Replaced by Michael Hobbs, 58^th minute

13.   Michael Lealava'a

14.   Alapati Leiua

15.   Jason Woodward Replaced by Steve Honey, 65^th minute

 

Reserves

16.   Motu Matu'u

17.   Jacob Ellison

18.   Joe Latta

19.   Dean Brunsdon

20.   Frae Wilson

21.   Michael Hobbs

22.   Steve Honey

23.   Arden David-Perrot