Lions suppress Steamers in slippery Rotorua

Wes Goosen and Ben Lam both scored well-taken tries against the Steamers in their third consecutive Men's NPC win. 

Wellington: 31 (Malo Tuitama, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Ben Lam, Wes Goosen, Asafo Aumua tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 3 con) Bay of Plenty: 10 (Terrence Hepetema try, Mike Delany con, pen)

 
WHAT HAPPENED
 
Wellington extended their unbeaten start to the season with a third bonus point win.
 
The score was 17-10 just past the hour mark creating the prospect of a tricky finish. However Wes Goosen darted 25-metres to score the visitors' fourth try, after not being held in a tackle, to terminate that possibility. 
 
In greasy conditions, the match failed to soar to great heights as a spectacle.
 
Wellington started strongly when wing Malo Tuitama scored in the 7th minutes collecting a skip pass from Jackson Garden-Bachop. Strong initial surges by Jeff To'omaga-Allen and Vaea Fifita extended the host's defence.
 
Bay of Plenty bombed a try in the 20th minute. Hugh Blake made a dramatic 50-metre burst before being tackled by Goosen in the Lions 22. Bay of Plenty recycled possession quickly, but Nathan Harris shelled a pass with the goal line wide open.
 
Wellington locks Sam Lousi and Isaia Walker-Leawere were an aggressive presence throughout and the latter was rewarded for his toil with a 34th minute try. The halftime score was 12-0.
 
Mike Delany kicked a penalty in the 47th minute to register the Steamers first points, but a kick-pass by Bachop resulted in a third Wellington try for Ben Lam.

In the 55th minute former Old Boys University halfback Luke Campbell was denied a possible try after Monty Ioane and Chase Tiatia created space in a narrow channel.

Terrence Hepetema wouldn't be stopped in the 64th minute when he grasped a Delany kick-pass. The conversion from under the sticks made it 17-10.

Fittingly two of Wellington’s best players had the last say. Goosen and then Asafo Aumua bustled over for the last tries.

THE LIONS WHO ROARED
 
Collectively it was a good night for the forwards, but Jeff To'omaga-Allen set the tone early with some big scrums and carries. Asafo Aumua produced another powerhouse display making All Black Nathan Harris look ordinary by comparison.
 
In the backs Garden-Bachop was creative on attack and Wes Goosen rock solid again. James Tuia was lively off the bench.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

This was Wellington’s fifth consecutive win over Bay of Plenty.

This was Wellington’s eighth match against Bay of Plenty played in Rotorua in the NPC since the first in 1977, which Wellington won 54-9, and their sixth win. BoP won in 2009, while it was a 9-9 draw in 1990.

This win extends Wellington’s record against BoP in all first class matches to played 36, won 29, lost five and drawn two.

Wellington has now scored four tries or more on 17 occasions against Bay of Plenty.

This was the sixth consecutive match between the Lions and Steamers where the winning side has scored more than 30 points. Three of these winning scores have been 31 points – 31-24 to Wellington in 2010, 31-13 in 2015 and now 31-10 in 2017.

WHERE TO NEXT

Wellington have a busy next week hosting Hawke’s Bay on Wednesday night and then travelling to Blenheim to tackle Tasman. Bay of Plenty will be hoping to bounce back against Manawatu in Palmerston North on Friday, September 8.
 
CLUB RUGBY LIONS MVP
 
3. Jeff To'omaga-Allen
2. Asafo Aumua
1. Wes Goosen
 
Points after three matches:
8. Asafo Aumua
3. Wes Goosen, Jeff To'omaga-Allen
2. Du'Plessis Kirifi
1. Julian Savea Tolu Fahamokioa

TEAMS

Bay of Plenty: 1. Jordan Lay, 2. Nathan Harris, 3. James Lay, 4. Tom Franklin, 5. Keepa Mewett - Captain, 6. Hugh Blake, 7. Mitchell Karpik, 8. Jesse Parete, 9. Richard Judd, 10. Mike Delany - Vice-Captain, 11. Joe Webber, 12. Terrence Hepetema, 13. Lalakai Foketi, 14. Monty Ioane , 15. Chase Tiatia Reserves: 16. Liam Polwart, 17. Solomona Sakalia, 18. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 19. Culum Retallick, 20. Troy Callander, 21. Henry Stowers, 22. Luke Campbell, 23. Liam Steel

Wellington: Andrew Wells, Malo Tuitama, Wes Goosen, Regan Verney, Ben Lam, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Brad Shields (c), Galu Taufale, Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Jeff To'omaga-Allen, Asafo Aumua, Tolu Fahamokioa. Reserves: Sitiveni Paongo, Vince Sakaria, Alex Fidow, Will Mangos, James Tuia, Carlos Price, Losi Filipo.