Lions feast on Otago
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:14
The Wellington Lions secured an excellent 45-10 Air New Zealand Cup pre-season win over Otago at Porirua on Friday.
Big defence, continuity on attack and a strong attacking scrum platform paved the way for a convincing seven-tries-to-two win in front of a bumper Porirua Park crowd in fine and mild conditions.
The Wellington Lions scored four tries in the first half and flew to a 26-5 half-time lead, three tries coming off attacking scrums and the other an intercept and runaway try scored by centre and vice-captain Tane Tu'ipulotu.
Livewire scrumhalf Alby Mathewson was the first to cross in the eighth minute of play, picking the ball up at the base of a second phase ruck from a scrum inside Otago's 22nd waltzing through untouched.
From a scrum win in the same position, first five-eighth Dan Kirkpatrick kicked ahead up the blindside for left wing Brendan Watt to run on to and complete the second try.
Tu'ipulotu showed a clean pair of heels to out sprint the defence for a 65-metre try, before openside flank Serge Lilo scored in the opposite corner that the first two tries were scored from after the Lions worked the ball wide from another scrum in Otago's 22.
In reply, Otago right-wing lucky Mulipola ran on to a kick and chase behind the Lions' defensive line to score Otago's only try of the first half.
Otago scored first in the second half following a period of concerted pressure, before a turnover won in front of the Lions posts by lock Api Naikatini and substitute openside Scott Fuglistaller sent replacement No.8 Thomas Waldrom and electric fullback Buxton Popoalii away for a popular length of the field try.
Popoalii was in the action again in Wellington's next try, setting up a five-pointer for Fuglistaller in support after another lightning burst up the short side, this try coming from a booming tackle in midfield by loose forward Victor Vito and a resulting turnover.
The Lions pressed hard until the end and were rewarded with their last try on full-time, with replacement first five-eighth Seminar Manu sending his Old Boys-University club teammate Joe Hill away for a try in the left hand corner.
Manu's sideline conversion was successful and the Lions completed a well-earned victory.
The Wellington Lions play their third and final warm-up game against Canterbury in Christchurch next Friday, ahead of their Air New Zealand Cup season opener against Hawke's Bay at Westpac Stadium on Friday August 1.
Scores:
Wellington Lions:
Tries: Mathewson, Watt, Tu'ipulotu, Lilo, Popoalii, Fuglistaller, Hill
Cons: Kirkpatrick 4, Manu
Otago:
Tries: Mulipola 2
Teams:
Wellington Lions: 15 Buxton Popoali'i, 14 Joe Hill, 13 Tane Tu'ipulotu (vice-captain), 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 Brendan Watt, 10 Dan
Kirkpatrick, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Chris Masoe, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Jeremy Thrush (captain), 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Dane Coles, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements - from: Ged Robinson, Donal McNamara, Bernie Upton, Thomas Waldrom, Tomasi Palu, Seminar Manu, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Neemia Tialata.
Otago: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Karne Hesketh, 13 Brett Mather, 12 Aaron Bancroft (vice-captain), 11 Lucky Mulipola, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Sean Romans, 8 Paul Grant, 7 Hoani Matenga, 6 Seko Qaraniqio, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Ross Kennedy, 3 Jed Vercoe, 2 Jason MacDonald (captain), 1 Jeremy Aldworth.
Replacements - from: Peter Mirrielees, Ben Nolan, Uili Koloofai, Shaun Tauti, Toby Morland, Chris Noakes, Casey Stone, Dan Snee, Carl Anderson.
