News

Lions roar on in Air NZ Cup

Friday 05th September 2008

On a roll: Thomas Waldrom crosses over for Wellington

Air New Zealand Cup leader Wellington made it six bonus-point wins from six by defeating a gallant Manawatu 36-13 at FMG Stadium on Friday.

In a tight encounter, the Lions were pushed hard by Manawatu and were only able to make sure of their victory over the last quarter of play when they scored four of their six tries.

They met a swarm of green jerseys throughout the match, the home side proving competitive throughout - particularly at the breakdowns and scrums - and contributing to a frenetic end-to-end game with their positive style of play.

Nevertheless, it was another satisfying win for the Lions, who held off the committed Turbos challenge and kept their tryline intact for 70 minutes.

Manawatu kicked two penalties through Matty James to hold a 6-5 lead at the end of a free-flowing first half, after Wellington number eight Thomas Waldrom had scored the game's opening try from an attacking scrum movement in the fifteenth minute.

The Turbos attacked early in the second half, but a sizzling break-out from inside the Wellington 22 from Cory Jane, set up the Lions' second try to left wing Hosea Gear.

Continuing the movement and gliding around his marker, Gear touched down for his eighth try of the season to give Wellington the lead again after 44 minutes.

More competitive play followed as the Lions brought on fresh substitutions, including Ross Filipo at lock and Fa'atonu Fili at fly-half, both of whom were key players in the four tries still to be scored.

A Fili break and kick-out pass to the sideline fell just short of being reeled in by right wing Tu Umaga-Marshall. But this momentum continued and Umaga-Marshall broke the line on the 22 and dashed through for Wellington's third try to make it 15-6.

More concerted pressure followed and four minutes later, Filipo crossed in the same spot for the bonus-point try. This time Fili made sure of the first conversion of the evening.

Filipo then had a hand in the next try. Running on to a clever box kick put in by scrum-half Alby Mathewson near his own try-line, Filipo passed out to Jane who scorched through for a well-deserved 90-metre try.

Manawatu never came close to scoring a try until lively full-back Kurt Baker scooted 40 metres down the sideline to score, but stand-in Wellington captain Jeremy Thrush had the final say when he galloped over 4 minutes from full-time.

The Turbos remain winless since their opening round upset of Canterbury and their play-offs chances now appear remote.

The scorers:

For Manawatu:
Try: Baker
Con: Thompson
Pens: M. James 2

For Wellington:
Tries: T. Waldrom, Gear, Umaga-Marshall, Filipo, Jane, Thrush
Cons: Filii 3

Manawatu: 15 Kurt Bake, 14 Lote Raikabula, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Francis Bryant, 11 Andre Taylor, 10 Matty James, 9 Aaron Good, 8 Hamish Gosling, 7 Josh Bradnock/Doug Tietjens (c), 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 James Goode, 4 Hayden Triggs, 3 David Te Moana, 2 Rob Foreman, 1 Grant Polson.
Replacements: 16 Sean O'Connor, 17 Talau Hala, 18 Paul Rodgers, 19 Doug Tietjens/Mitchell Crosswell, 20 Issac Thompson, 21 Aaron James, 22 Francisco Bosch.

Wellington: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Chris Masoe, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Jeremy Thrush (c), 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Eugene Smith, 17 Arden David, 18 Ross Filipo, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Scott Fuglistaller, 21 Tomasi Palu, 22 Fa'atonu Fili.

Referee: Steve Walsh
Television match official: Chris Pollock