Wellington 39 North Harbour 14
KEY POINTS:
Wellington skipped into third place in the Air NZ Cup rugby competition with a bonus-point win over North Harbour in Wellington tonight.
They scored six tries to two in the 39-14 win to jump past Hawke's Bay and assume a place behind leaders Canterbury and Auckland (both on
34 points) with 25 points. Even Waikato skipped over Hawke's Bay (now fifth), who were beaten 6-44 by Canterbury last night, to hold fourth place after their seventh round games.
With halfback Piri Weepu assuming the role of playmaker as well as halfback in an authoritative performance despite missing the previous two rounds with an ankle injury, Wellington looked clinical.
Weepu's probing runs and play-switches often troubled the Harbour inside backs and Wellington made a series of attacks starting from the halfback.
No 8 Scott Waldrom was another powerful player in the Wellington side and he provided his team will a lot of momentum, as did winger Ma'a Nonu who often moved further in for set pieces to cause problems for the opposition five-eighths.
For North Harbour, it was another emotional roller-coaster. They lost the Ranfurly Shield to Waikato, then won last week's game before being thrashed again tonight. But they did finish stronger of the two teams at Westpac Stadium, scoring two late tries, including the game's last by the promising Michael Harris in the 78th minute.
Wellington had the ability to maintain momentum whether the forwards or the backs attacked and winger Shannon Paku, Weepu and lock Jeremy Thrush scored a try each to give them a 20-0 lead at halftime.
Paku's was a remarkable try in the 24th minute when Weepu sparked an attack, and quick hands - including a cut-out pass from first five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth - saw Paku unleashed for the line. His experienced showed when he touched down from a dive while most of his body was airborne and in touch at the corner flag from the momentum of a tackle.
Waldom picked up the ball from the scrum six minutes later and unloaded to Weepu who needed just one side-step to clear the defence for his try.
Five minutes later lock Jeremy Thrush scored, the result of constant pressure on the Harbour defence.
Wellington maintained their first-half game in the second spell and the effect on the scoreboard was similar, with Fijian flanker Api Naikatini, Waldrom and Nonu scoring a try each.
North Harbour's other try was scored by winger Rudi Wulf.
Wellington 39 (Shannon Paku, Piri Weepu, Jeremy Thrush, Api Naikatini, Scott Waldom, Ma'a Nonu tries; Jimmy Gopperth pen, 3 con), North Harbour 14 (Rudi Wulf, Michael Harris tries; Jack McPhee 2 con). Halftime: 20-0.
- NZPA