Taranaki upstage Wellington XV
Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:20
Taranaki upstages a Wellington XV 13-5 in their Air New Zealand Cup pre-season fixture at Porirua Park on Friday.
In fine but blustery conditions, both sides scored one try each, but the boot of Taranaki inside centre Cory Niwa proved the difference on the scoreboard.
Niwa kicked two penalties in the first half and added the conversion of blindside flank Taisasina Tuifua's try in the second to help Taranaki to a 13-0 lead after 50 minutes of play.
In reply, Wellington XV replacement flank Chris Masoe scored almost immediately after - Masoe the recipient of some quick recycling and passing near Taranaki's goal line and scoring from the last pass tipped on by hooker Dane Coles.
Further chances in the remaining 25 minutes went unrewarded against committed Taranaki ruck and maul defence and some key handling errors at crucial moments.
Playing into the wind in the first half, a patient Wellington side restricted the visitors to a penalty in the 19th minute, before flyhalf Seminar Manu created Wellington's best opportunity when he darted through a gap and passed out to fullback Buxton Popoalii and left wing Greg Tweddle.
Tweddle was just bundled into touch, and went very close to scoring again after No.8 Victor Vito set the bumper crowd alight with a storming run up the grandstand touchline, all started from an overthrown Taranaki line-out and steal at the back by Wellington captain and openside flank Serge Lilo.
Wellington closed out the first half hot on attack, but a spilled ball in front of the chalk and hack ahead by Taranaki centre Jonathan Sweetman led to a long-range penalty against the run of play for the amber and blacks right on half-time.
Despite the narrow loss, all 24 Wellington XV players received quality game time.
Lilo, Vito, Coles and lock Api Naikatini were all prominent, while others to feature off the bench in the second half included lock Chris Middleton, right wing Joe Hill and Masoe.
Scores:
For Taranaki:
Try: Tuifua
Con: Niwa
Pens: Niwa 2
For the Wellington XV:
Try: Masoe
Teams:
Taranaki: 15 Asalemo Malo, 14 Shayne Austin, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Corey Niwa, 11 Paul Perez, 10 Jack Cameron, 9 Brendan Haami, 8 Francois Prinsloo, 7 Alex Tulou, 6 Taiasina Tuifua, 5 Leon Power, 4 Nemia Soqeta, 3 Hamish Mitchell, 2 Laurence Corlett (captain), 1 Tony Penn.
Replacements - from: James Annabell, Carl Carmichael, Tama Tuirirangi, Paul Dwyer, Germaine Anaha, Baydon Phillips, Jayden Hayward, Junior Luteru, Pomare Samupo.
Wellington: 15 Buxton Popoalii, 14 Sinoti To'omaga, 13 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 Greg Tweddle, 10 Seminar Manu, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Serge Lilo (captain), 6 Kaipati
Gaualofa, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Bernie Upton, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Donal McNamara.
Replacements - from: Eugene Smith, Thomas Tupuivao, Chris Middleton, Ash Parker, Tomasi Paul, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Joe Hill, Brendon Watt.
