Stallions score vital win
A ‘‘hit and run’’ victory over the Wellington Orcas has kept the WaiCoa Bay Stallions in contention in the National Premiership.
In a vital win for the Stallions, a superb defensive display guided them to a 30-8 result in Porirua on Saturday, with the visitors coming from behind to shut the Orcas out in the second half.
The Stallions flew down on the morning of the game, then flew back out a few hours after fulltime, with a valuable two competition points packed in their luggage, and coach Tony Lajpold describing their exploits as a ‘‘hit and run’’ venture.
Having been so good in upsetting Counties Manukau first-up, the Stallions had been brought down to earth by a loss to Canterbury, so they had to beat Wellington to remain a chance of achieving their lofty target of making the final.
The Stallions got the ideal start with second rower Jeremy Siulepa opening the scoring, but the Orcas hit the front with two unconverted tries, before the visitors crossed through reserve hooker Yannis Mea to go to halftime up 10-8.
After second rower Terry Kopua extended the margin, the match was 14-8 right up until the final six minutes, before the Stallions exploded with three tries in the dying stages – which included Mea going over for his second – to ice the cake.
Coach Tony Lajpold was able to get one over his family – with brother-in-law Darryl Marino the Orcas his coach, Lajpold’s sister the manager, and two of Lajpold’s nephews playing for the hosts.
Lajpold said his side were probably guilty of trying a bit too hard in the first half and not taking their opportunities, but was proud of the way they got the job done.
‘‘We went back to what we did against Counties, we stopped the opposition coming up the middle, and we forced them to go wider,’’ he said.
‘‘That was probably the most important thing. And our edge defence was a lot better.
‘‘I think they always knew they were in control, but it’s a matter of turning that ‘you know’ into points, which is what they did.’’
Lock Nick Read stood out for Lajpold, while the halves pairing of Hayden Karena and Johnson Peri took control and guided the team round the park well.
With three occasions when the Stallions crossed the tryline but either lost the ball or got pushed into touch, Lajpold still wants to see better execution on attack for a vital match against Akarana in Hamilton on Saturday. After that the Stallions should notch easy victories against the Northern Swords and Central Vipers, then collect two points for their last-round bye.
‘‘If we can compete there and hopefully get two points then we’re again back in the driving seat of our own destiny, which is what we want,’’ Lajpold said.