Log o' Wood still in Lions' den
Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:01
The Log of Wood: Ranfurly Shield
The Wellington Lions retained the Ranfurly Shield on Thursday with a 61-6 victory over Wanganui. Flyhalf Daniel Kirkpatrick scored 18 first-half points and right wing Alipati Leiua crossed for two tries in the eight tries to nil victory in bright sunshine at Cooks Gardens.
Kirkpatrick kicked five from five, scored a try and set up another in the first 40 minutes, while six individuals, all backs, scored Wellington's six second half tries.
The Lions scored two quickfire tries midway the second spell that proved the clinchers, some slick back play putting left wing David Smith in for a try in the corner and then barely one minute later hard running centre Shaun Treeby intercepting a pass and inside centre Charlie Ngatai running in support to score the resulting 60-metre runaway try.
These two tries between the 55th and 57th minutes extended the Lions' lead from 23-6 to 35-6 against the willing Wanganui challengers, and from there Wellington scored four more tries to close out their victory.
Previously the defending Heartland Championship Meads Cup champions Wanganui had shown much heart and commitment in keeping Wellington scoreless for long periods after the Lions had taken a 23-3 lead soon after the 20-minute mark.
Kirkpatrick had been the key figure early on for the Lions, kicking three penalties, setting up their first try and scoring the second himself.
Kirkpatrick opened the scoring with three consecutive well-struck penalties for a 9-0 advantage after 15 minutes.
He then combined with right wing Leiua for the first try, putting through a pinpoint cross kick over the heads of Wanganui's defenders for Leuia to run on to and score unopposed for his 20th try of the 2009 season and first try in Wellington colours. The conversion was successful and the Lions led 16-0.
A strong run into the home side's 22 by hooker Ged Robinson set up the second try, the Lions recycling possession at the ruck and Kirkpatrick crossing under the posts and posting the extras to make it 23-0.
Scrumhalf Dennison Tyrell added the next two pieces of scoring, kicking penalties in the 32nd and 47th minutes.
Smith and Ngatai then scored their tries in rapid succession to put the result beyond doubt, Smith's try notable for being Wellington's 250th in Ranfurly Shield rugby after another wing, Duncan McGregor, had scored their first in the first ever Shield game in Auckland in 1904.
Leiua stormed up the right hand touchline and passed inside to Treeby in support for the next try, replacement flyhalf Fa'atonu Fili converting to make it 42-6.
Treeby and Ngatai next returned the favour by providing a second try to Leiua off another well-worked scrum move, while a slicing run and big sidestep by Treeby created the next try for his New Zealand Under-20 teammate and replacement halfback Frae Wilson to bring up 50 points.
Left wing Brendon Watt then ran in to score the Lions' eighth and final try of the afternoon, Fili's conversion from a wide angle the last act of the game and giving the Lions a 61-6 win.
This was Wellington's fifth successful Ranfurly Shield defence against Wanganui who were hosting a Ranfurly Shield match for the first time in their history, after previous Wellington defences against them at home in 1919, 1920, 1957 and 1982.
The Wellington Lions next defend the Ranfurly Shield against Otago in the first round of the Air New Zealand Cup on 31 July.
Scores:
Wanganui:
Pens: Tyrell 2
Wellington Lions:
Tries: Leiua 2, Treeby, Smith, Kirkpatrick, Watt, Ngatai, Wilson
Cons: Kirkpatrick 3, Fili 3
Pens: Kirkpatrick 3
Teams:
Wanganui: Not available
Wellington Lions: 15 Apoua Stewart, 14 Alipati Leiua,
13 Shaun Treeby, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 David Smith, 10 Dan Kirkpatrick, 9 Tomasi Palu, 8 Matthew Luamanu, 7 Scott Fuglistaller (captain), 6 Mark Reddish, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Chris Middleton, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Arden David-Perrott.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Adrian Barone, 18 Serge Lilo, 19 Masefau Leuluniu, 20 Frae Wilson, 21 Fa'atonu Fili, 22 Brendan Watt.
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