Otago defeat listless Lions in Dunedin

The scoring

Otago: 44 (Matt Faddes, Tom Franklin, Sam Anderson-Heather, Jack Wilson, Michael Collins tries; Fletcher Smith 5 con 2 pen; Scott Eade 1 pen) Wellington Lions: 21 (Wes Goosen, Shaun Treeby, Matt Proctor tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 3 con)

The round-up

The omens were alarming from the outset when Wellington conceded two penalties for the same offence. Brad Shields and Vaea Fifita shelled high kicks by Fletcher Smith and the cover defence retrieved the ball in offside positions. Smith was unable to punish Wellington for those transgressions, but the points soon flowed for the hosts as Wellington's breakdown inaccuracy and leaky defence was brutally exposed.

In the eighth minute Matt Faddes opened the scoring for Otago when Smith hit Teihorangi Walden with a skip pass and the second-five put his centre into the clear.

Wellington centre Matt Proctor made a try saving tackle on Smith in the 14th minute, but three minutes later lock Tom Franklin proved unstoppable from a lineout maul.

Fullback Peter Umaga-Jensen and second-five Shaun Treeby made breaks for Wellington, but in contrast with Otago the last pass went astray.

In the 22nd minute Otago scored a thrilling try when the ball was transferred between six pairs of hands from touchline to touchline. Blindside Sam Anderson-Heather completed the sweeping movement.

Wellington wing Wes Goosen had a moment he would rather forget after half an hour when his long pass was intercepted on halfway by opposite Jack Wilson.

Down 28-0 at the break, Wellington started the second-half with vigour. In the 42nd minute Goosen crossed out wide after a bustling run by lock Hoani Matenga created space and momentum.

On the subject of space the Wellington defense was totally deceived from a lineout four minutes later and Otago fullback Michael Collins sailed into a hole wider than the Clutha River. 

Wellington responded with their best passage of the match. In the 51st minute hooker Leni Apisai was held up over the line. Otago survived a long passage of defence in their 22, but when Otago cleared Wellington scored a length of the field try. Surges from reserve hooker Asafo Aumua and Fifita eventually saw Treeby score against his old province.

Proctor's 50-metre solo try in the 64th minute was thoroughly deserved and briefly raised hopes of an improbable comeback, but those prospects were dashed when Wellington ill-discipline returned. Otago kicked three penalties in the last ten minutes.

The Lions who roared

Procter labelled his team's performance embarrassing on Sky at halftime, but he was far from it. Stable on defence and consistently threatening with ball in hand could Procter be the next contender for an All Black midfield spot should the recent spate of injures continue to mount? Umaga-Jensen had some quality moments and Matenga and Fifita were the best of the starting forwards. Aumua added some energy and aggression from the bench.

By the numbers

This was Otago's 42nd win against Wellington, but well short of their largest triumph against the Lions which was 82-10 in 1998.

Otago retain the Mike Gibson Memorial Trophy. Gibson had been a hard-running centre, who played representative matches for both Wellington and Otago. In 1988 he had died of Leukemia, aged 27.

Wellington lost the penalty count 13-10, but it was 7-2 after 26 minutes. They also conceded 19 turnovers.

Where to next

The Lions host North Harbour next Saturday and will be working hard to avoid a repeat of their poor first half. The good news is that they have over a week off to prepare for that match. Otago should remain unbeaten against Northland on 31 August.