Rugby: Wellington regroup to beat off Counties

WELLINGTON - A mentally tough Wellington side beat Counties Manukau 46-28 in their NPC first division rugby match at Athletic Park on Saturday.

Counties Manukau twice looked like stealing the initiative from Wellington.

However, instead of dropping their heads as Wellington teams of the past have done, the 1999 version dug deep and scratched back the lead before running away with the match in the last 10 minutes.

Spurred on by a superior scrum and a man-of-the-match performance from halfback Jason Spice, Wellington looked comfortable, recycling the ball for several phases and pressuring Counties Manukau into mistakes.

Pressure by the scrum and Spice on his opposite Robbie Graham created Wellington's first try when Spice stole the ball from a backpedalling scrum and ran 30m before he was dragged down less than 10m from the tryline.

The Wellington forwards blew over the top and set up two rucks before the ball was spread wide to first five-eighths David Holwell who put centre Jason O'Halloran through to score in the 16th minute.

Counties Manukau did not give up and often exploited the unwillingness of the Wellington back three to attack the ball in the air.

First five-eighths Blair Feeney often put the ball behind the Wellington defensive line for wings Joeli Vidiri and Jona Qio to run on to.

One kick allowed Qio to regather in front of Elvis Seveali'i and sprint 50m untouched to score.

Qio's try, which was converted by Feeney, came less than 60 seconds after Counties Manukau had opened their account with a try to bullocking No 8 Kuola Tukino.

Tukino's try came after Counties Manukau stole the ball off a Wellington defensive lineout and the big loosie was able to crash over after a quick ruck.

The double strike put Counties Manukau ahead 14-13 after 28 minutes.

After Counties Manukau' two quick tries, Wellington consolidated by notching a penalty to Holwell until the 40th minute when wing Ali Koko crossed for a try which was disallowed.

The home side went to halftime up 16-14 and after the break they began to capitalise on Counties Manukau's mistakes.

No 8 Filo Tiatia made several storming runs and Spice continued to exploit poor defence around the fringes of the ruck and base of scrum.

A 51st-minute try to replacement flanker Iva Motusaga, in his NPC debut, put Wellington out to a 26-19 lead.

However less than minute later Vidiri intercepted a pass while Wellington were hot on attack and the big wing ran 85m untouched to take the score to 26-21.

Wellington again rallied with a try to replacement wing Brad Fleming after Holwell changed the angle of attack to go out 33-21 before Counties Manukau again struck back with a try to Graham to claw back to 33-28.

Motusaga was then denied a second try after he was judged to have made a double movement before a 70th-minute Holwell penalty and Spice try five minutes later put the game beyond doubt.

Lock Sene Ta'ala completed the scoring after outstanding blindside work by Spice, Tiatia and Seveali'i saw Wellington storm into the Counties Manukau 22.

The forward pack arrived en masse and Ta'ala was underneath the tangle of bodies.

Wellington coach Graham Mourie said he was pleased with the way his side had refused to give in. - NZPA