Wellington ends shield drought
NAPIER: Wellington will hold the Ranfurly Shield for the first time since 2009, ending Hawke’s Bay’s impressive defence with some inspired defence of its own in a 1912 win.
The Lions have been luckless in recent decades when playing for the Log O’ Wood, experiencing only one sixgame tenure in the last 40 years.
But that history counted for little at McLean Park on Saturday as they prevented the secondhighest scorers in the NPC from crossing the tryline.
That rearguard looked like it could crack after the hooter had sounded, with a 14man Wellington defending a couple of lineout drives from the masters of that move. But repel them it did, ending the Magpies’ reign at 14 games and sparking wild celebrations among the visitors.
‘‘It means a lot,’’ victorious captain Du’Plessis Kirifi said.
‘‘It’s an awesome thing in New Zealand rugby — playing for a piece of silverware like this is a bloody brilliant thing.’’
Wellington’s first defence will be this weekend against unbeaten conference leaders Waikato.
The Lions — who moved above Hawke’s Bay and into second behind Waikato with their win — can lock away the Shield for the year if they win that match. And as long as they defend they way they did tonight, it shapes as an enjoyable summer for the province.
Wellington’s last two challenges, in 2014 and 2020, resulted in comprehensive defeats at McLean Park. But this one appeared much different from the opening stages, as its physicality prevented Hawke’s Bay from converting an initial edge into a significant advantage.
As a result, the first half featured a lack of continuity and a total absence of expansive attack, with Lincoln McClutchie and Aidan Morgan trading penalties.
The last of those left it 99 at the break and followed what became a crucial moment, as Joe Apikotoa was sent to the sin bin for a noarms tackle on Asafo Aumua.
TJ Perenara took particular exception to the hit and would have taken satisfaction from scoring the game’s only try while the hosts were short on numbers, kickstarting the second half after strong carries from Julian Savea and Peter Lakai.
Morgan’s fourth penalty extended the Lions’ lead to 10 with half an hour to play and left them dreaming of a famous victory, with Hawke’s Bay unable to respond until McClutchie slotted his fourth 10 minutes from time.
After Morgan shanked a straightforward kick that would have sealed the game, the Magpies had one last chance deep in Wellington territory. But with Perenara having seen yellow for infringing at the breakdown, Wellington held firm against a couple of dangerous drives to walk away with the old trophy. —