Kiri Kiri bags four in big win for Manwatu over Wellington Lions

Manawatu: 50 (Antonio Kiri Kiri 4, Jason Emery 2, Chris Eves, Callum Gibbins tries; Otere Black 5 con) Wellington: 28 (Wes Goosen, Hoani Matenga, Jason Woodward, Galu Taufale tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 4 con). Halftime: 17-7. 

Wellington's five match win streak has come to an abrupt halt, trounced by Manawatu in Palmerston North on Wednesday night.

Manawatu's victory was a record against Wellington eclipsing their 28-9 triumph in 1982.

Wellington made a shocking start, an ominous signal of things to come. Former Ories hooker Hunter Prescott busted 40-metres in the fifth minute, but passed outside when he should have delivered inside, missing a near-certain try.

Missed tackles were a regularity for the Lions. In the ninth minute. Prescott's former Ories teammate Ambrose Curtis received a miss-pass and beat three defenders to put Jason Emery in for the first try.

Manawatu blindside Antonio Kiri Kiri produced a star turn scoring four tries, two in each half. Wellington mistakes essentially gifted Kiri Kiri his first three tries. The ball was dropped in the 22 and the busy and abrasive Palmerston North BHS old boy muscled over. His fourth try was from a Wellington scrum which was pushed towards Miramar.

Manawatu first-five Otere Black played a blinder. He attacked the line with authority and the short kick he supplied for Jason Emery to collect his second try was a moment of genuine quality.

The green machine won the match with a two-try burst early in the second half, turning into the wind and occasional lashings of rain and extending a 10-point halftime lead. 

Jason Woodward's try when he flashed past three defenders and surged 40-metres after an Alex Fidow offload was a rare highlight on a gloomy night for Wellington.

In the 69th minute Sam Lousi was yellow carded for foul play, which was the signal for the engraver to put Manwatu's name on the inter-provincial Coronation Cup for 2016 and then pop it back into the trophy cabinet for another year.

THE LIONS WHO ROARED

Wes Goosen didn't let himself down. Malo Tuitama added some spark off the bench and Hoani Matenga toiled gamely in a lame effort.

BY THE NUMBERS

Nine players have scored hat-tricks this season, four are forwards.

Two Turbos have scored hat-tricks this season. Ngani Laumape bagged three tries in Round 2 against Southland.

In 84 previous matches between the provinces the only other player to score four tries in a game was Wellington's Mike Clamp in 1984.

Four players have scored four tries in a Division I match.

WHERE TO NEXT

Manawatu have confirmed a place in the playoffs and face top ranked Otago next week. Wellington will seek an improved effort against Taranaki at the Westpac Stadium on Sunday.

TEAMS

MANAWATU: 15 Ambrose Curtis (OBM), 14 Curtis Reid (COB), 13 Jason Emery (Kia Toa), 12 Hamish Northcott (Varsity), 11 Nathan Tudreu (Kia Toa), 10 Otere Black (COB), 9 Jamie Booth (Varsity), 8 Valentino Mapapalangi (Kia Toa), 7 Callum Gibbins (Varsity), 6 Antonio Kiri Kiri (OBM), 5 Liam Hallam-Eames (OBM), 4 Kane Thompson (Feilding), 3 Jake Ilnicki (San Diego Breakers - USA), 2 Hunter Prescott (OBM), 1 Chris Eves (Kia Toa). Reserves: 16 Tim Cadwallader (COB), Fraser Armstrong (OBM), Michael Alaalatoa (FOB-Oroua), Jackson Hemopo (Kia Toa), Harrison Brewer (Te Kawau), Toby Morland (Te Kawau), Sam Malcolm (Varsity), Ngani Laumape (Kia Toa)

WELLINGTON: 15 Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata), 14 Jason Woodward (Upper Hutt), 13 Matt Proctor (Oriental-Rongotai), 12 Shaun Treeby (Tawa), 11 Wes Goosen (Old Boys University), Jackson Garden-Bachop (Norths), 9 Tomasi Palu (Old Boys University), 8 Hoani Matenga (Wellington), 7 Brad Shields (Petone), 6 Vaea Fifita (Wellington), 5 Sam Lousi (Waratahs), 4 James Blackwell (Petone), 3 Chris Baumann (Denver Stampede - USA), 2 Leni Apisai (Norths), Ha'amea Ahio (Oriental-Rongotai). Reserves: 16 Asafo Aumua (Avalon), 17 TBC, 18 Alex Fidow (Oriental-Rongotai), 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere (Poneke), 20 Galu Taufale (Poneke), 21 Sheridan Rangihuna (Hutt Old Boys Marist), 22 Pakai Turla (Poneke), 23 Malo Tuitama (Oriental-Rongotai).