Lions in pre-season feast
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:36
The Wellington Lions beat Canterbury 20-12 in their final Air New Zealand Cup pre-season match at the Ascot Green, Christchurch, on Friday.
Scoring 20 unanswered points, in coming back from a 0-12 deficit late in the first half, the Lions outscored Canterbury by three tries to two for a well-earned win.
Fullback Cory Jane, in his first game back returning from a minor injury, scored the first of these tries just before half-time.
Centre Tamati Ellison crossed for the second try 15 minutes into the second half, and then added a penalty as Wellington took the lead for the first time.
The win was then sealed by right wing Brendan Watt, combining with lock Api Naikatini off a Piri Weepu cross-kick to fly in and score under the posts. The mobile Naikatini was on hand out wide to reel in captain Weepu's kick on the full and pass to Watt in support to run to the line.
Players to impress against Canterbury included Jane and Tamati Ellison in a well-performing backline and loosehead prop Jacob Ellison, lock Jeremy Thrush and blindside flank Chris Masoe in the forwards.
The Lions now return home from the South Island where they were based during the week at a pre-season camp in Blenheim, before travelling to Christchurch for this game.
Their Air New Zealand Cup campaign kicks off next Friday, August 1, at the Westpac Stadium against Hawke's Bay.
Scorers:
Wellington Lions:
Tries: Jane, Ellison, Watt
Con: Kirkpatrick
Pen: Ellison
Canterbury:
Tries: Williams, Paterson
Con: Brett
Teams:
Canterbury: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Adam Whitelock, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 James Paterson, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Hayden Hopgood, 6 Kieran Read (captain), 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Sam
Whitelock, 3 Campbell Johnstone, 2 Steve Fualau, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Richard Wheeler, 17 Owen Franks, 18 George Whitelock, 19 Mose Tuiali'i, 20 Steve Alfeld, 21 Hamish Gard, 22 Kosuke Endo.
Wellington Lions: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Brendan Watt, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Dan Kirkpatrick, 9 Piri Weepu (captain), 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Chris Masoe, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 4 Ross Filipo, 3 John Schwalger, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Jacob Ellison.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Anthony Perenise, 18 Api Naikatini, 19 Scott Fugistaller, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Victor Vito, 22 Tu Umaga-Marshall.
Referee: Lyndon Bray
Touch judges: Kane McBride, Vinny Munroe
