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| Shields bags a brace as Lions power past Southland |
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Industrious No. 8 Brad Shields scored a double as the Vodafone Wellington Lions beat the Southland Stags 30-25 at a wintry Westpac Stadium on Thursday night in round 11 of the ITM CUP.
Shields barged over to score two important second half tries, including the match winner off the back of a powerful attacking scrum six minutes from fulltime to cap a well-earned win for the Lions over the Southlanders, their 10th straight ITM win over them and their 50th ITM Cup victory at Westpac Stadium since 2000. In a hard-fought contest, the lead seesawed several times and the result was in the balance until Shields ran hard from the set-piece and brushed off Southland openside flanker Tim Boys to collect his brace. First five-eighth Lima Sopoaga added the sideline conversion and the Lions went to a match-winning 30-22 lead. Southland closed the deficit with a consolation penalty on fulltime. In extremely difficult conditions, the Lions scored three convincing tries in the match and first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga kicked three penalties and three conversions to cap off a committed all-round performance against the plucky Southlanders. The win, without a bonus point, still keeps the Lions' slim hopes of reaching the ITM Cup Premiership final alive with two more away games remaining against Waikato and North Harbour, in a tightly contested points table. The Lions had previously gone into halftime holding a 13-10 lead having scored their first try to fullback Apoua Stewart after half an hour. Earier, the Lions won an lineout turnover through Shields and surged forward into Southland territory to create their first real opportunity of the match. The Southlanders averted the early danger and several further promising raids inside the opening 10 minutes. A sensational break up field from openside flanker Scott Fuglistaller and carried on by Shields again went close to creating the opening try. Hooker Dane Coles tapped a penalty and was held up just short of the line. But, awarded another penalty, Sopoaga stepped up to the kicking tee and the Lions went ahead 3-0. The Stags almost scored from their first real opportunity of the match, fullback Robbie Robinson's inside pass to second five-eighth Matt Saunders unable to be reeled in with the tryline open. Sopoaga struck an excellent long-range penalty into the wind to double the Lions' early advantage with a quarter of the game almost gone. The Stags spread the ball across both sides of the field and were eventually awarded with their first kickable chance. First five-eighth James Wilson missed with this, but big lock Josh Bekhuis crashed over for the opening try of the match to close the score to 6-5. The Lions then hit back with an excellent 80-metre try, scored by fullback Stewart but created by Sopoaga and right wing Julian Savea who combined from a cleverly taken 22 metre dropout. Catching Southland napping, Sopoaga kicked a short drop out for Savea to run on to and collect on the fly. Savea powered up field leaving defenders in his wake. Quick recycling and a short thrust towards the chalk by lock and skipper Jeremy Thrush was checked, but Stewart was on hand at the next play to score the try that put the Lions ahead 13-5 Southland replied moments later with their second try. The Lions failed to rein in a high kick up into their 22 and second five-eighth Matt Saunders flew through to score in the left hand corner. Fullback Robinson's conversion sailed wide and the Lions held on to a one-point lead. A stab kick through into the in-goal by centre Conrad Smith was just gathered by Southland's last line of defence and the teams went into the halftime interval as a hail shower enveloped the stadium. Southland second five-eighth Matt Saunders skipped through to score Southland's third try just after halftime. Sopoaga replied with his third penalty to keep the Lions ahead at 16-15 after 50 minutes. The Stags hit back with their fourth try of the night after an attacking scrum inside Wellington's 22 and a sustained build-up of phase play. Replacement wing Tony Koonwaiyou scored in the corner and Robinson converted to give the visitors a 22-16 advantage with 25 minutes to play. Lions No. 8 Shields attacked with vigour up the blindside from a Lions scrum and halfback TJ Perenara was almost rumbled over in support. Instead, the Lions were awarded a 5-metre scrum and Shields came up with the next try, and his first, as good reward for this period of pressure. Sopoaga's conversion from the sideline put the Lions back in front, 23-22. The Lions went close to scoring their third try and extending their lead after concerted build-up in Southland territory, originally set up by a break and chasing kick into the corner by halfback TJ Perenara and including a promising run through traffic by centre Smith, was denied by tenacious defence. Sopoaga then missed with a difficult 39-metre penalty attempt the lead remained a solitary point. But Shields grabbed the match winner five minutes from fulltime when he rumbled over from another attacking 5-metre scrum. Sopoaga added the extras and the winning result was assured with Southland now needing to score twice. The win for the Lions extends their head-to-head advantage over Southland to 20 wins from 26 ITM Cup/NPC games. Southland have won five and there has been one draw. In all matches between the two provinces, Wellington has now won 62, Southland 23 and there have been seven draws.
Scores:Vodafone Wellington Lions 30 (Brad Shields 2, Apoua Stewart tries; Lima Sopoaga 3 pen, 3 con) Southland 25 (Matt Saunders 2, Josh Bekhuis, Tony Koonwaiyou tries; Robbie Robinson con, Marty McKenzie pen). HT: 13-10. The scoring action (by minute):15th: Lima Sopoaga penalty. Lions 3-0
The Vodafone Wellington Lions team was:1. Reggie Goodes Replaced by Jacob Ellison, 69th minute Reserves
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