News

Wellington on a roll

August 15 2008

Wellington maintained their unbeaten run in the Air New Zealand Cup after running nine tries past Counties Manukau to set up a comprehensive 64-7 win at Westpac Stadium on Friday.

Winger Hosea Gear scored three of their nine tries and rookie fly-half Fa'atonu Fili kicked eight goals from nine attempts for a personal haul of 19 points.

Gear scored two tries in the first half and one in the second as the Lions roared into life and raced to a 28-0 lead after 24 minutes, securing their four-try bonus point in the process.

The Lions then added one more before half-time followed by four more after the interval to seal an emphatic win over the Steelers and become the first Lions side since 1996 to win their first three matches of the Championship season.

The win was also the highest against Counties Manukau in 26 matches now played since 1976, surpassing the 47-0 victory against them the only other time they have met at Westpac Stadium in 2001.

Joining Gear in the try scoring circle were flankers Serge Lilo and Victor Vito, lock and captain Jeremy Thrush, centre Michael Hobbs, scrum-half Alby Mathewson and his replacement Tomasi Palu.

The Lions were fluid and enterprising in all areas of attack, running in tries from set-pieces, backline movements and from broken play - highlight being Gear's length of the field second try from a turnover on Wellington's own tryline.

Their organised and hard-hitting defence was equally effective in restricting a gallant Counties side to just one converted try.

Gear scored the first try in the left-hand corner in just the second minute of play as the Lions moved the ball across both sides of the field inside Counties' 22.

A free kick penalty was awarded near the posts and the ball was moved through fast hands to Gear to score, with Fili adding the extras from the sideline.

The appreciative crowd didn't have to wait long for three more tries, the scoring action coming thick and fast over the next 20 minutes.

Lilo and Thrush combined twice to steal defensive Counties line-outs and cross the chalk, while the dynamic Vito brilliantly reeled in a pass behind his back and sliced through a gap to score his try.

Lilo scored off the shoulder of Thrush, who leaped high to take the Counties ball, and surged through the middle of the set-piece to find space for Lilo.

Next it was the turn of Lilo to return the favour to Thrush, Lilo pouncing on an overthrown Steelers' line-out, surging ahead and offloading to a jubilant Thrush in support.

The bonus point secured, Fili added a penalty in the 27th minute, before the fireworks resumed through Gear who finished off an end-to-end try when he chased through a kick ahead from his own line, and he and Hobbs twice hacked ahead a loose ball from the halfway line.

Gear almost scored his third try just before the break, but was bundled into touch on the sound of the half-time hooter after another counter attack from deep inside the Lions' territory.

He also missed out again three minutes into the second half, unable to reel in his kick and chase towards the tryline, instead Hobbs chased through and scored after a Counties player's hand in the tackle of Gear had knocked the ball back.

Fili's fifth conversion made it 45-0 after almost as many minutes.

The Steelers dug deep over the remainder of the contest, showing more determination on attack and more resolve in their defence and were rewarded with a try to inside centre Romi Ropati.

The Lions quickly replied with a try to Mathewson, who raced up the blindside from an attacking scrum to push the score past 50 points, while Gear and Palu completed the excellent win with two more tries in the last ten minutes.

The scorers:

For Wellington:

Tries: Gear 3, Lilo, Vito, Thrush, Hobbs, Mathewson, Palu

Cons: Fili 8

Pen: Fili

For Counties Manukua:

Try: Ropati

Con: Cummins

Wellington: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Joe Hill, 13 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Fa'atonu Fili, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Jeremy Thrush (c), 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Jacob Ellison.

Replacements: 16 Eugene Smith, 17 John Schwalger, 18 Chris Middleton/Scott Fuglistaller, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Tomasi Paku, 21 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 22 Buxton Popoali'i.

Counties Manukau: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Niva Ta'auso (c), 12 Romi Ropati, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Dean Cummins, 9 Kevin Farrell, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 DJ Forbes, 6 Viliami Fihaki, 5 Andrew Van der Heijden, 4 Jamie Chipman, 3 Jayden Murch, 2 Lance Po-ching, 1 Simon Lemalu.

Replacements: 16 Cody Martin, 17 Rob Katu, 18 Rupeni Nasiga, 19 Gary Saifoloi, 20 Samisoni Fisilau, 21 Tanner Vili, 22 David Raikuna.

Referee: Kelvin Deaker

Television match official: Brent Murray