Lions clinical in big victory over Manawatu¯
It’s been another professional outing for Wellington.
Manawatu¯ were the latest team for the Lions to do a job on, beaten 49-7 at home in Palmerston North yesterday.
The game was even more onesided than the score looked, with Wellington converting only one of their seven tries. Referee Cam Stone did his bit to keep things respectable for the Turbos too.
But there was no changing the result, though, which pushed the Lions up to third place on the Mitre 10 Cup premiership ladder.
Wellington were into their work early, with loose forwards Thomas Waldrom and Mateaki Kafatolu both scoring tries within the opening 10 minutes. Waldrom drove over from a scrum, before Kafatolu took an inside ball from wing Losi Filipo for his fivepointer.
Manawatu¯ got back into the contest for a period, but an expert turnover at the breakdown from Matt Proctor allowed Thomas Umaga-jensen to jog away and score, then it was Waldrom’s turn to win the ball back on the deck. His effort was right in front of the Wellington posts and set up a spectacular try to wing Ben Lam.
The ball was shovelled in the direction of hooker Asafo Aumua, who tipped it over his head to prop Tolu Fahamokioa. He had a quick gallop before realising Lam was better equipped to go the length of the field.
The Lions completed their first-half scoring when hardworking lock James Blackwell, ran in from 20 metres after a beautifully worked lineout move.
The only bum note had ben sounded by Jackson Gardenbachop’s boot. He battled in the blustery conditions, missing all five conversion attempts as Wellington went to the halftime break 25-0 up.
They’d played into a very stiff breeze in the first 40 minutes and it was going to be interesting to see how clinical they could be with it at their backs.
Typically things can get untidy in these one-sided situations, but it took the Lions just five minutes to make it 30-0. Hooker Asafo Aumua strolled in this time and was immediately subbed, along with Fahamokioa.
But, as the bench was gradually cleared, you feared points might be hard to come by.
The sound of Stone’s whistle became a regular feature, but that didn’t stop Lions lock Isaia Walker-leawere from scoring next.
Trent Renata stepped up to ensure Wellington’s seventh try didn’t go unconverted.
Brice Henderson got a late try for the Turbos, but there was no hiding the gulf between the two teams as Peter Umaga-jensen, then Lam went over at the death.