Hunt steers Tasman past Wellington

Tasman picked up their second win of the Mitre 10 Cup season on Sunday as they edged out Wellington 37-35 in a thriller at Lansdowne Park.

Victory puts the Makos into fifth position in the Premiership, above Auckland and Counties, with Wellington still top of the Championship.

Wellington led 28-13 soon after the break but the Makos fought their way back into the game before Mitch Hunt's converted try in the 70th minute proved to be the match-winning score, with Tasman holding on despite a late Wellington try being carded from left wing Losi Filipo.

In the first-half, crossings from Alex Fidow, Ben Lam and Sam Lousi took the Lions into a 21-13 lead, with Tim Perry scoring for the hosts.

But after the break Will Jordan, James Lowe and Hunt's tries, along with three Hunt penalties, helped the Makos to victory, despite James Blackwell and Filipo's tries for Wellington, who at least take two points from defeat which puts them six points clear in the Championship.

The scorers:

For Tasman:
Tries: Perry, Jordan, Lowe, Hunt
Cons: Hunt 4
Pens: Hunt 3

For Wellington:
Tries: Fidow, Lam, Lousi, Blackwell, Filipo
Cons: Garden-Bachop 5

Tasman: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Tima Faingaanuku, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 James Lowe, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 9 Billy Guyton, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Vernon Fredericks, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Shannon Frizell, 4 Alex Ainley (c), 3 Isaac Salmon, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Tim Perry
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Tom Hill, 18 Ryan Coxon, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Tim O'Malley, 23 Trael Joass

Wellington: 15 Ben Lam, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Wes Goosen, 12 Regan Verney, 11 Losi Filipo, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 8 Brad Shields (c), 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Will Mangos, 5 James Blackwell, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Alex Fidow, 2 Leni Apisai, 1 Tolu Fahamokioa
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Sitiveni Paongo, 18 Ha’amea Ahio, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Mateaki Kafatolu, 21 Sheridan Rangihuna, 22 Dan Kirkpatrick, 23 Levi Harmon

Referee: Brendon Pickerill