BOP end Wellington's unbeaten run

Bay of Plenty stamped themselves as a genuine NPC rugby championship chance after a resilient 17-13 win over unbeaten Wellington in Mt Maunganui today.

It was Bay of Plenty's only second win over Wellington in 92 years and their first at home, vaulting the under-rated division one minnows into semifinal contention with just three rounds to play.

The home side needed every last ounce of tenacity to hold Wellington out in the dying stages of the game, with a last-minute Tana Umaga burst taking him within inches of the line.

As the Wellington backs lined up with overlaps on both sides, the ball was trapped at the bottom of the ruck and referee Steve Walsh signalled fulltime.

Bay of Plenty compiled a 14-3 halftime lead with a try to wing Anthony Tahana after 30 minutes and three penalties to first five-eighth Glen Jackson, which saw him raise 100 points for the season.

Wellington's sole scoring effort was a sixth-minute penalty to Piri Weepu but they started the second half with a steady wind at their back and seemingly with the backline firepower to run away with the game.

But Bay of Plenty's second-half forward effort was a magnificent case study of how to play into the wind. They retained possession close to the rucks and executed impressive mauls up-field.

Wellington scored against the run of play when Bay of Plenty replacement halfback Ruki Tipuna charged down a Riki Flutey kick and the ball popped straight into the hands of Wellington wing Roy Kinikinilau.

He ignited a withering counter-attack finished by Umaga when he broke through and galloped 30m to score.

Jackson gave his side a bit more breathing space with 10 minutes to play when he kicked a fourth penalty and his forwards maintained possession superbly until the final-minute breakout by Wellington which Umaga nearly capped.

Wellington captain Rodney So'oialo praised Bay of Plenty, who have lost only once in two years at Blue Chip Stadium, but said his side had let themselves down.

"Our handling and a lack of urgency at the breakdowns really let us down but we had to play to the conditions and keep it in tight," he said.

"That Bay pack was very tough and they fully deserved their win."

Umaga was the best of the Wellington side in his first NPC game in two years, but their much-vaunted loose forwards were out-played by their unheralded opposites, led superbly once again by captain and blindside flanker Wayne Ormond.

Wellington also suffered a blow midway through the first half when openside Ben Herring left the field with a suspected broken arm.

It was Bay of Plenty's fourth win over a Super 12-based province this season and came hard on the heels of a 44-16 drubbing of Otago.

"The boys thought we'd played pretty well against Otago but we knew we could go up another level and we did today," veteran forward Paul Tupai said.

"We're just getting better and better and we're looking forward to making that top four."

- NZPA

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