Wellington go top

Lions try-scorer: Shaun Treeby

Wellington ran in five tries to beat North Harbour 34-28 at Westpac Stadium to go top of the table.

It wasn't all one-way traffic for the Lions and Harbour provided Wellington with a late scare with two converted tries late in the ITM Cup game.

However, the hosts held on for a vital bonus-point win in the New Zealand capital to go one point clear of Auckland and Taranaki in the Premiership standings while Harbour remain winless.

The scorers:

For Wellington:
Tries: Filipo, Savea, Sopoaga, Gaualofa, Treeby
Cons: Sopoaga 3
Pens: Sopoaga

For North Harbour:
Tries: Tuivaiti, Rei, Tuitavake, Leiataua
Cons: Hall 2, Rei 2

Wellington: 15 Charlie Ngatai, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Ope Peleseuma, 11 Jason Woodward, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Frae Wilson, 8 Genesis Mamea, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Mark Reddish, 5 Ross Filipo, 4 Jeremy Thrush (c), 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Motu Matu'u, 1 Solomona Sakalia.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Whetu Henry, 18 Kaipati Gaualofa, 19 Pau Halafihi, 20 Kayne Hammington, 21 Shaun Treeby, 22 Matt Proctor.

North Harbour: 15 Luke Devcich.14 Nafi Tuitavake, 13 Cory Aporo, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Codey Rei, 9 Bryn Hall,8 Jim Tuivaiti, 7 Sam Hayes-Stevenson, 6 Irwin Finau, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Chris Smith, 3 Ben Afeaki (c), 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Woonton.
Replacements: 16 Manu Leiataua, 17 Salesi Manu, 18 Api Ratuniyarawa, 19 Malakai Ravulo, 20 Brenton Helleur, 21 Pita Ahki, 22 David Raikuna.

Referee: Jonathon White