Late burst embellishes Wellington's hard-fought win

Census Johnson of Taranaki charges up field. David Fairey / Getty Images

Wellington 30 Taranaki 14

Two tries in the dying stages propelled Wellington to a flattering 30-14 over Taranaki in an uninspiring Air New Zealand Cup rugby match in New Plymouth tonight.

Replacement wing Cory Jane played a crucial hand in Wellington's late 14-point burst at Yarrow Stadium, snatching a Jason Spice grubber kick from Brendon Watt's grasp over the line before a pinpoint centre kick enabled Lome Fa'atau to score between the uprights on fulltime.

The eventual margin was rough justice on Taranaki, although they barely threatened in the second spell despite demolishing the Wellington pack at scrum time.

First five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth was instrumental in keeping Wellington in touch after a disastrous start, contributing his team's first 16 points with a reliable boot and neatly taken try.

Despite dominating the early territory and possession stakes Wellington made a horror start and found themselves 0-8 down after just four minutes.

Taranaki first five-eighth Miah Nikora, who transferred from Wellington club rugby, had the home side on the board inside the first 60 seconds with a handy penalty.

Gopperth then failed to kick the restart 10m and soon after a ruck turnover enabled Taranaki centre Matthew Harvey to emerge from the breakdown and hare 55m to the line after would-be defenders Fa'atau and Luke Andrews collided with each other.

Wellington were hamstrung by handling errors and a committed Taranaki defence and had to be content with Gopperth penalties in the 14th and 37th minutes to keep in touch.

Between Gopperth's strikes Nikora added another penalty after a 13-phase attack involving battering ram Census Johnson.

The giant Samoan prop, who has played for Biarritz in France, got through a mountain of work in the first spell, helping disrupt the Wellington scrum with fellow front rower Tony Penn.

Fortunately for Wellington the 134kg tighthead ran out of gas near the end of the half although he continued to cause headaches at scrumtime where John Schwalger and former All Black Joe McDonnell endured a torrid time.

Taranaki stuck to a simple, forward-orientated gameplan, the policy leading to Nikora's third penalty in the 47th minute after a forward drive was defused illegally.

Wellington spurned a kickable penalty shot three minutes later after Taranaki were guilty of a similar indiscretion and the decision paid dividends when Gopperth took a return pass from Tana Umaga and dotted down untouched between the uprights after eluding halfback Brendon Haami.

Gopperth gave Wellington the lead for the first time on the hour with another handy penalty.

Taranaki were unable to convert their forward dominance, a couple of late counter-attacking opportunities being undone by elementary handling errors.

Wellington 30 (Jimmy Gopperth, Cory Jane, Lome Fa'atau tries; Gopperth 3 pen, 3 con)
Taranaki 14 (Matthew Harvey try; Miah Nikora 3 pen).
HT: 6-11.

- NZPA