AB bench secures win for Wellington
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:06
Wellington's dominance in the latter stages wrapped up a 26-7 Air New Zealand (NZ) Cup win over a determined Southland outfit at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill on Friday.
Despite a superb effort from the home side who missed a host of scoring opportunities, it was Wellington who eventually secured the bonus point win.
Wellington used the experience in their squad in the last quarter, introducing All Black prop Neemia Tialata and flank Chris Masoe off the bench - giving way to tries from fullback Corey Jane and Chris Masoe.
Southland hounded the Wellington 22m area during the second quarter, but were unable to ground the ball over the try-line in the face of some rampant Wellington defence.
Scrumhalf Albie Matthewson scampered around the blindside off a turnover, spotted a gap and raced 30m untouched for a resounding try which was converted by flyhalf and captain, Piri Weepu.
The hosts then began one of the most sustained periods of attack in years, though never managed to bear any fruit.
Firstly wing Matt Saunders was held up over the line by Wellington No.8 Thomas Waldrom, then scrumhalf Dane Shelford was held up, while flyhalf Blair Stewart had the ball kicked away by wing Tu Umaga-Marshall, whilst in the act of grounding it between the posts.
In the middle of it all Matthewson was sin-binned for tapping the ball away at a Southland free kick.
Prop and captain Jamie Mackintosh was the next candidate to produce a try-scoring opportunity, though wasn't quite able to ground the ball over the line.
Wellington's solid defence finally cracked in the 37th minute when hooker David Hall crossed in the corner, which Stewart converted to level the scores.
Stewart made a superb break from the Southland 22m at the start of the final quarter, but once in the Wellington half his wild pass saw Wellington re-possess, who worked the ball back downfield to score the game-breaking try.
Fullback Jane hit a pass from hooker Ged Robinson at pace and after breaking through the advantage line, was unchallenged.
Weepu came to the fore soon after, bumping off Stewart's challenge and passing the ball to Jane, who quickly offloaded to Masoe camped on the sideline who went over to score.
The Lions' bonus point came thanks to an interception from centre Tane Tu'ipulotu, who exploited a desperate period of expansive play from the hosts.
Scorers:
For Wellington:
Tries: Matthewson, Jane, Masoe, Tu'ipulotu
Cons: Weepu 3
For Southland:
Try: Hall
Con: Stewart
Teams:
Southland: 15 Mark Wells, 14 Matt Saunders, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Jason Kawau (captain), 11 Pehi Te Whare, 10 Blair Stewart, 9 Dane Shelford, 8 Hua Tamariki, 7 Tim
Boys, 6 Dion Bates, 5 Hoani Macdonald, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Fai Mika, 18 Daniel Ramsay, 19 John Hardie, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Willie Rickards, 22 Robbie Robinson.
Wellington Lions: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Piri Weepu (captain), 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Eugene Smith, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Scott Fuglistaller, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Fa'atonu Fili, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Buxton Popoalii.
Referee: Steve Walsh
TMO: Brent Murray
