Lions make it six in a row AT A GLANCE

Wellington are all but assured of a place in the Mitre 10 Cup premiership semifinals, after a 57-36 bonus-point win over Northland in their crossover clash in the capital last night.

With their sixth victory on the bounce, the second-placed Lions have restored the seven-point deficit they had to Tasman and, with two regular season games remaining, look well on track to bag a home semifinal.

Their latest success was easily predictable, with injury-ravaged Northland sitting last in the championship division on the back of a dozen defeats in a row.

The scoreline at Westpac Stadium didn’t do justice to the Taniwha side, who claimed their first four-try bonus point this season, and had the hosts working hard during the first half.

In the end, the free-flowing contest turned into a try-fest, with the hosts running in eight – doubles to captain Du’Plessis Kirifi and replacement winger Pepesana Patafilo – and Northland bagging five of their own as they kept up their spirits despite being well outgunned.

(Du’Plessis Kirifi 2, Pepesana Patafilo 2, Vince Aso, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Wes Goosen, Josh Furno tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 7 con, pen)

(Aorangi Stokes 2, Paddy-Joe Atkins, Jonty Rae, Jack Debreczeni tries; Jack Debreczeni 3 con, pen) 22-15.

But it was the visitors who grabbed a surprise early lead, when hooker Paddy-Joe Atkins rumbled over from a close-range lineout drive in the 12th minute.

The Taniwha’s advantage was short-lived, as after Jackson Garden-Bachop’s simple penalty attempt, the hosts raced in for two tries in three minutes. First, centre Vince Aso produced a splendid finish in the left corner after latching onto a long ball from Garden-Bachop, then down that same left-side channel, Kirifi made a fine burst from the 22 and swatted away some ordinary tackle attempts, and all of a sudden it was 15-5.

There were some worse tackle attempts to come, this time from Wellington just minutes later, as replacement No 8 Aorangi Stokes carved through from 25 metres out to get Northland back in the game. A Jack Debreczeni penalty late in the half had things all square, but but right on halftime Wellington struck a blow, with wing Wes Goosen making a sizzling run then finding support on the inside from Kirifi, who went in for his double, and gave the hosts a 22-15 lead at the break.

After withstanding some pressure from Northland early in the second spell, Wellington second-five Thomas UmagaJensen burst over from close range in the 51st minute to give the hosts some breathing space.

Goosen soon after pounced on a loose Northland ball and raced 60 metres,, as both sides went on to bag three more tries apiece in a frantic final quarter.

Wellington 57

Northland 36

HT: