The Vodafone Wellington Lions were unable to meet the Mooloo challenge at Hamilton on Tuesday night, losing their round 12 ITM Cup match to Waikato 27-31.

The Lions scored a terrific counter attacking team try at the end, finished off by fullback Apoua Stewart, to grab a possibly crucial bonus point, but were undone earlier in the second half by a committed Mooloo side who overhauled a halftime Lions lead and kept their noses in front over the last quarter of the match.

Behind 20-31 with 15 minutes still to play, the Lions were unable to secure enough quality possession to close the gap against the home side that had its tails up following three consecutive penalties to fullback Trent Renata followed by what proved to be the match winning try to left wing Tim Mikkelson.

Earlier, the Lions had started the second half holding a 17-15 lead, which first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga had then extended early in the second with a whopping long-range penalty.

The Lions had earned their halftime lead on the back of two tries scored at the start and the end of the half, both involving second five-eighth Michael Hobbs. Hobbs handed a nice pass to centre Alapati Leiua to score from in just the third minute and then ran hard and scored a try himself with the last act of the opening stanza of play.

The Lions' terrific start followed a turnover from the opening kick-off and several promising phases. This paid instant dividends when Hobbs put Leuia in the clear for the game's opening try. Sopoaga kicked the conversion from out wide to put the Lions ahead 7-0.

A storming run off the back of a scrum by No. 8 Brad Shields almost freeing up space for another try and an unsuccessful Sopoaga penalty from halfway were two opportunities the Lions had for points over the next 10 minutes. Waikato first five-eighth Sam Christie made his team's first clean break of the game from a scrum, leading to a raid in front of the tryline and Lions openside flanker Scott Fugistaller being sinbinned for making an early tackle.

The Mooloo men opted for a scrum at the next play. The Lions almost won a tighthead, but Waikato regained control and right wing Henry Speight scored in the corner to close the gap to 5-7.

Sopoaga and Renata exchanged penalties in quick succession and the Lions led 10-8 after half and hour as Fuglistaller returned to the field.

Waikato halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow took a quick tap and scampered towards the tryline and was held up just short. But from the ensueing attacking scrum, centre Save Tokula ran hard at the uprights and was awarded a try. Renata's conversion put Waikato ahead for the first time.

The Lions finished the first half with a flury and responded with a great try in reply to Hobbs, who ran on a pass in broken play, pinned his ears back and sprinted all the way to the chalk. Sopoaga's conversion put the Lions back in front and they led 17-15 at halftime.

Sopoaga kicked a beautiful long-range penalty early in the second half that extended the lead to 20-15, but Renata pegged the three points back immediately with his second penalty.

Renata kicked his side into the lead after a period of pressure under the posts. He extended the advantage two minutes later with a penalty for offside play.

The Mooloo incursion kept coming and left wing Tim Mikkelson slipped through to score in the lefthand corner. Renata's conversion sailed over and the home team now led 31-20.

The Lions regained quality possession and fought hard to create try scoring opportunities. But were unable to score until the end when a breakout and counterattack in open play led to left wing Julian Savea being put in the clear. Savea was brought down on the 40-metre line, but quick recyling and a handy inside transfer from Sopoaga to Stewart created the try that gave them a bonus point.

This match was the 34th ITM Cup encounter between Wellington and Waikato. The Lions have won 19 and Waikato now 15.

The Lions play their final match of the 2011 ITM Cup this Friday night against North Harbour in Albany.

Scores:

Vodafone Wellington Lions. 27 (Alapati Leiua, Michael Hobbs, Apoua Stewart tries; Lima Sopoaga 3 con, 2 pen) Waikato 31 (Henry Speight, Save Tokula, Tim Mikkelson tries; Trent Renata 4 pens, 2 con) Ht: Lions 17-15

The scoring action (by minute):

3rd: Alapati Leiua try. Lions 5-0
4th: Lima Sopoaga conversion. Lions 7-0
24th: Henry Speight try. Lions 7-5
29th: Lima Sopoaga penalty. Lions 10-5
31st: Trent Renata penalty. Lions 10-8
35th: Save Tokula try. Waikato 13-10
36th: Trent Renata conversion. Waikato 15-10
40th: Michael Hobbs try. Wellington 15-15
41st (first): Lima Sopoaga conversion. Lions 17-15
43rd: Lima Sopoaga penalty. Lions 20-15
46th: Trent Renata penalty. Lions 20-18
58th: Trent Renata penalty. Waikato 21-20
59th: Trent Renata penalty. Waikato 24-20
64th: Tim Mikkelson try. Waikato 29-20
65th: Trent Renata conversion. Waikato 31-20
81st: Apoua Stewart try. Waikato 31-25
82nd: Lima Sopoaga conversion. Waikato 31-27

The Vodafone Wellington Lions team was:

1. Reggie Goodes Replaced by Jacob Ellison, 55th minute
2. Motu Matu'u
3. Neemia Tialata Replaced by Arden David-Perott, 55th minute
4. Jeremy Thrush (c)
5. Mark Reddish Replaced by Joe Latta, 73rd minute
6. Faifili Levave
7. Scott Fuglistaller Replaced by Dean Brunsdon, 73rd minute
8. Brad Shields
9. TJ Perenara Replaced by Frae Wilson, 70th minute
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Jason Woodward Replaced by Steve Honey, 62nd minute
12. Michael Hobbs Replaced by Michael Lealava'a, 52nd minute
13. Alapati Leiua
14. Julian Savea
15. Apoua Stewart

Reserves
16. Arden David-Perrot
17. Jacob Ellison
18. Joe Latta
19. Dean Brunsdon
20. Frae Wilson
21. Michael Lealava'a
22. Steve Honey
23. Solomona Sakalia