Ories hooker Prescott scores double to sink Wellington XV

Mike Buckley evades two tacklers on his way to scoring the first try, a customary breakout solo run. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography. More photos of this game here

Two tries in two minutes by former Oriental-Rongotai hooker Hunter Prescott was the telling difference in Manawatu’s 28-14 Men’s NPC pre-season win over the Wellington XV this afternoon at Otaki.

The game was tied at 14-14 heading into the last quarter, but Prescott scored successive tries to extinguish a Wellington challenge that was hampered by mistakes.

Earlier, Manawatu was the superior starter, controlling possession and territory for 10 minutes and centre Lewis Marshall, who last played for the Petone club in 2014, stepped off his left foot and darted 20 metres to score the game’s opening try to put the Turbos up 7-0.

Marist St Pat’s fullback Andrew Wells was threatening for Wellington, breaking the line twice but failing to convert both chances.

His MSP teammate Michael Buckley continued his swashbuckling club form by scoring a spectacular 30 metre try from an angled run and Petone first five-eighth Dan Kirkpatrick kicked the conversion to make it 7-7.

Poneke centre Levi Harmon then poached an intercept and scampered away to score to put Wellington ahead 14-7.

Manawatu built multiple phases and blindside No.8 Harrison Brewer rumbled over. Ben Wyness added the conversion to make it 14-14.

Both teams emptied their benches and the second half became a scrappy affair. Neither team took the initiative until a penalty was won by Manawatu and a quick tap by Wyness sparked a movement which led to Prescott’s first try.

Manawatu broke out again, almost directly from the next kick-off and Prescott finished off a try on the wing to make it 28-14.

Wellington had a chance to launch a late comeback when Johnsonville centre Jeff Makapelu busted but Northern United lock Chris Middleton spilled the ball with the line open.

The standouts from the game for Manawatu include Wyness, blindside Nick Crosswell, openside flanker Brice Henderson and halfback Jamie Booth. For Wellington, Buckley was lively, along with Wells,. Halfback Catlos Price put in an honest shift in the first half and Poneke flanker and captain Greg Foe toiled gamely.

The next pre-season match for the Wellington Lions squad is this coming Thursday against the Tasman Makos in Seddon. That match doubles as a fundraiser for the Awatere Rugby Club, which last year combined with Kaikoura to create East Coast Rugby, to pay for the insurance excess of $29,000 on around $180,000 of damage to their Seddon clubrooms following the earthquakes.

The Wellington Lions and Manawatu meet again the opening round of the men’s NPC and for the Coronation Cup in Palmerston North on Sunday 20 August.