Lions and Pride move into home semi-final contention

Thomas Waldrom led from the front for the Wellington Lions against Manawatu. 

The Wellington Lions and the Wellington Pride both moved into home semi-final contention in their respective Men’s and Women’s NPC competition competitions as the business end of the season nears, after recording bonus point wins on Sunday.

The Lions defeated the Manawatu Turbos 49-7 in Palmerston North and the Pride beat Tasman 88-3 in Nelson. Reports of both games below.

Lions retain Coronation Cup against Manawatu

Wellington Lions 49 (Ben Lam 2, Thomas Waldrom, Mateaki Kafatolu, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, , James Blackwell, Asafo Aumua, Isaiah Walker-Leawere, Peter Umaga-Jensen tries; Trent Renata 2 con) beat Manawatu 7 (Brice Henderson try; Sam Malcolm conversion). Halftime 25-0.

The Wellington Lions retained the Coronation Cup and cemented their spot inside the NPC playoff zone in a comfortable nine tries to one victory over the Manawatu Turbos in typically breezy Palmerston North conditions.

The Lions played into the wind in the first half and scored five clinical unconverted tries to take a 25-0 lead into halftime. They added four more in a scrappy second half, including two at the end that inflated the final score, although they also missed seven of their conversions.

The Lions opened the scoring in the 6th minute through No. 8 Thomas Waldrom following a 5-metre scrum and a midfield bust by Thomas Umaga-Jensen.

This was quickly followed up by a sweeping try off the top of an attacking lineout to openside flanker Mateaki Kafatolu who was in support of right wing Losi Filipo.

A long period on defence was quickly turned into attack and the third try was scored in the 27th minute, a turnover and raid up a narrow blindside channel leading to a try to second five-eighth Umaga-Jensen. Garden-Bachop was unable to convert and it remained 15-0.

Left wing Ben Lam raced 95 metres to score the bonus point try, following a ruck turnover by Waldrom under his posts and a lovely tip on by hooker Asafo Aumua to prop Tolu Fahamokioa and then on to Lam. Wellington’s fourth bonus point try put them in front 20-0.

Lock James Blackwell scored off a lineout clinic, wrapping around jumper Waldrom and the blindside defence opening up for him in a clear run to the chalk.

Asafo Aumua opened the second half scoring after a concerted build-up and a passing exchange involving forward Fahamokioa, Waldrom and lock Isaia Walker-Leawere. Garden-Bachop’s conversion hit the poles and it remained 30-0.

The Lions dominated possession and territory over the next 15 minutes, but the pressure dam broke in the 60th minute with lock Walker-Leawere crashing over. Replacement kicker Trent Renata added the extras.

Both teams made changes and the game lost structure somewhat over the middle stages of the second half.

Manawatu hung tough and scored their first/only try of the contest with 12 minutes to play, substitute Brice Henderson peeling away from a lineout drive to score in the corner. Replacement flyhalf Sam Malcolm slotted the conversion to buckethead cheers.

The Turbos defence remained stubborn, but Wellington finally cracked it twice more at the end, a patient multi-phase build-up sending replacement Peter Umaga-Jensen over the whitewash.

From the kick-off, fullback Wes Goosen broke the line and set up a flying Ben Lam who raced clear to score his brace. Renata’s conversion was the last act of the game and the Lions won 49-7.

Club Rugby MVP points: 3. Thomas Waldrom; 2. Thomas Umaga-Jensen; 1. Mateaki Kafatolu

Wellington Pride ease past Tasman in Farah Palmer Cup

Wellington Pride 88 (Ayesha Leti-L’iga 3, Alicia Print, Monica Tagoai, Amanda Rasch, Sinead To’oala Ryder, Jackie Patea-Fereti, Accaia Te Iwimate, Angel Uila, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Montana Heslop, Bernadette Robertson, Dora Laupola tries; Amanda Rasch 9 con) beat Tasman 3 (Hayley Hutana pen).HT 31-3.

The Wellington Pride eased to an 88-3 win over Tasman in Nelson on Sunday in their fourth round Farah Palmer Cup match, to book their place in the Women’s NPC Championship semi-finals with two rounds remaining.

The Pride ran in 14 unanswered tries to beat Tasman and move to the top of the table, leading 31-3 at halftime and scoring a further eight second half tries.

In a complete team performance, the Pride’s hunger and commitment proved too much for the Tasman side, with 12 players crossing the chalk. Left wing Ayesha Leti-L’iga scored a hat-trick, taking her 2018 season tally for both Oriental-Rongotai in club rugby and for the Pride to 48 tries in 16 games.

The Pride opened the scoring in the sixth minute, Leti L’iga running back a kick, breaking tackles and finding hooker Alicia Print on her inside who pinned her ears back and scored under the uprights.

Right wing Monica Tagoai powered over to score their second try soon after, ahead of Tasman enjoying their best period of the game over the next 20 minutes. Organised defence kept them at bay and a penalty to centre Hayley Hutana was their only reward.

The Pride closed out the first half with three more tries, to second five-eighth Amanda Rasch, openside flanker Sinead To’oala Ryder, and Leti L’iga.

Leti L’iga opened the second half scoring with a 50 metre try under the posts from a kick-return, extending the lead to 38-3.

First five-eighth Accacia Te Iwimate benefited from a strong build-up, before she put blindside flanker Nina Foaese in a hole with a lovely delayed pass. Foaese in turn found prop Angel Uila in support who dived over to raise the half century.

Tagoai ran strongly in open play and linked up with industrious lock Joanah Ngan-Woo for the next try.

Replacement back Bernadette Robertson ran freely and set up Leti-L’iga to run in her hat-trick.

Replacement halfback Montana Heslop and captain and No. 8 Jackie Patea-Fereti scored the next two tries from tighthead scrum wins, before Roberston and Dora Laupola shut the door on Tasman with a barnstorming run to the line to end the contest.