Wellington put on first half clinic against Southland then made to work hard

Wellington Lions 52 (Ben Lam 3, Thomas Umaga Jensen, Asafo Aumua, Tolu Fahamokioa, James Blackwell,  Kaliopasi Uluilakepa tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 5 con; TJ Va’a con) beat Southland 7 (Bill Fukofuka try; James Wilson con)

WHAT HAPPENED

It turns out local sports fans could have watched the first half of this match, got their rugby fix and made it to most of the Wellington Secondary Schools Basketball boys final over in Kilbirnie. If they could have got a seat.

The Lions put on a first half half clinic to lay on six tries and lead 40-0 at halftime.

Then, as so often happens in one-sided contests, a combination of the dominant side losing their momentum and the other side lifting their game took hold.

The result was that Southland led the second half 7-5 with time almost up, before Wellington’s U20 prop Kaliopasi Uluilakepa barged over at the end to score the winning try of the second half. 

Ben Lam scored 16 tries in Super Rugby this year for the Hurricanes, and added to that tally tonight with a hat-trick. He scored two first half tries and a second half try that most players would have no right to score when he took on two defenders and the corner flag and won.

The Lions had their four-try bonus point and the game was won inside the opening 30 minutes.

After a long opening sequence, the Lions attacked from a lineout, Jackson Garden-Bachop stabbed a short kick through and Thomas Umaga-Jensen scored the first try of the night.

In the 15th minute, TJ Perenara ran wide from an attacking scrum and found Malo Tuitama on his inside. The left wing was cut down, but hooker Asafo Aumua scored a try from the next phase. Garden-Bachop missed the easy conversion. Lions 12-0.

Fullback Wes Goosen hurled a pass into touch instead of to an unmarked Malo Tuitama, but laid on the assist to Lam for the third try that did come a couple of minutes later to right wing Lam. Garden-Bachop nailed the sideline conversion. Lions 19-0.

Wellington held position for 17 phases, Tolu Fahamokioa barging over to score near the sticks. Lions 26-0.

Recent All Black Vaea Fifita was prominent in the next try scored by lock James Blackwell off the shoulder of Garden-Bachop. Lions 33-0.

Wellington finished off the first half scoring with a bust from halfway by Aumua, who passed inside to Tuitama who in turn found Lam on his inside to score his brace and send the visitors to the sheds trailing 0-40.

It took the Lions 17 minutes to break the impasse after halftime, Lam crossing for this hat-trick.

On another night they might have kicked clear again, but Southland showed much heart over the next 25 minutes or so, making their tackles and getting some much-needed possession.

Their sole try of the match was well-deserved, set up from a penalty and attacking lineout drive.

The Lions always threatened in possession and finally scored again right on fulltime through the prop they call Pasi. Of note, the other reserve prop Xavier Numia had left the field a few minutes earlier with a leg injury.

Rongotai College won the basketball decider.

WHO STOOD OUT

The Lions welcomed back their two All Blacks, TJ Perenara and Ardie Savea, who both played 63 minutes. As to be expected, both were busy and a cut above.

Lock James Blackwell was still going strong after 80 minutes, the Petone lock and former Wellington College head prefect had his best game in Lions colours.A Tradesman player, he also carried strongly and broke the line at least twice in the first half and showed skill and judgement. No. 8 Teariki Ben Nicholas also played with purpose and carried strongly. First five-eighth Jackson Garden- Bachop was a dominant figure in the first half, running strongly. Wes Goosen played well at fullback, and should be given more opportunities there. Both wings were dangerous, Tuitama a livewire at times and Lam the consumate finisher.

BY THE NUMBERS

The match kicked off and the first stoppage play was after 3.05 minutes.

Southland missed nine tackles in the first 18 minutes and 24 by halftime, and were forced to make almost 100 tackles in the first half.

This was Southland’s 16th consecutive loss away from home. 

This was Wellington’s 15th consecutive win against Southland, last losing to them in 2002 in Invercargill. 

Since 1976 the two sides have now met 31 times with Wellington winning 25, Southland 5, and solitary draw. Overall the ledger stands at 68 wins for Wellington,23 for Southland, and 7 draws in their 98 clashes.

This win follows on from the 60 point wins over Southland from the previous two clashes. The combined score over them in their encounters since 2016 has been 173-34.

CLUB RUGBY LIONS MVP

3. James Blackwell
2. Jackson Garden-Bachop
1. Teariki Ben Nicholas

Points after three matches:
5. Wes Goosen
3. Du'Plessis Kirifi
3. James Blackwell
2. James O'Reilly
2. Jackson Garden-Bachop
1.Will Mangos
1.Vaea Fifita
1. Teariki Ben Nicholas

WHERE TO NEXT

Southland have Counties Manukau next match, which is at home in Invercargill . Wellington’s next assignment is Waikato next Wednesday, then North Harbour next Sunday, so two games in a week coming up.

TEAMS

Wellington: 1.Tolu Fahamokioa, 2.Asafo Aumua, 3.Joel Hintz, 4.James Blackwell, 5.Will Mangos, 6.Vaea Fifita, 7.Ardie Savea, 8.Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 9.TJ Perenara, 10.Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11.Malo Tuitama, 12.Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13.Matt Proctor, 14.Ben Lam, 15.Wes Goosen. RESERVES 16.James O'Reilly, 17.Xavier Numia, 18.Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 19.Galu Taufale, 20.Greg Foe, 21.Carlos Price, 22.TJ Va'a, 23.Billy Proctor.

Southland: 1.Shaun Stodard, 2.Flynn Thomas, 3.Reuben Northover, 4.Raymond Tatafu, 5.Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 6.Wade McRae, 7.Phil Halder, 8.Tony Lamborn, 9.Jay Renton, 10.James Wilson, 11.Jackson Ormond, 12.Matthew Johnson, 13.Aleki Morris-Lome, 14.Isaac Te Tamaki, 15.Broc Hooper. RESERVES 16.Andrew Ready, 17.Joseph Walsh, 18.Christopher Apoua, 19.Ben Fotheringham, 20.Bill Fukofuka, 21.Nicolas Costa, 22.Raymond Nu'u, 23.Lewis Ormond.

For more visit: http://www.clubrugby.co.nz/national