Miter Cup 10: Injured Wellington recovers with victory over Auckland

Embarrassed last week, Wellington produced the only response Sunday at Eden Park that they would have deemed acceptable to get their Miter 10 Cup campaign back on track.

The difference a week made for the Lions was surprising as they rallied from that 53-28 beating at the hands of Waikato in the first round to secure a 39-21 win over Auckland at their home court.

Both teams are now 1-1 for the new provincial season, but it will be the Lions, who ran six attempts to three to secure the bonus point, feeling much better about themselves after an outstanding rebound from an out of character. flat screen on the Tron.

And after being outmatched by young Waikato No. 9 Xavier Roe last week, it was no surprise to see All Black running back TJ Perenara at the heart of the Lions’ response, as his backs had a field day on the firm. Garden of Eden lawn.

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Perenara had a couple of wayward kicks early on, but then went to work to inspire a flurry of four attempts in 20 minutes that turned a 7-0 deficit into a 22-7 lead that was never under real threat.

Vince Aso, with a double try, also looked strong as Wellington’s running backs found holes all afternoon in Auckland’s defense. Visiting captain Du’Plessis Kirifi and Ardie Savea led a strong display of breakdowns and hooker Asafo Aumua showed off his skills with some real class moments.

Peter Umaga-Jensen looked dangerous in Lions midfield, while Billy Proctor and Wes Goosen, in their historic match, were full of running the entire game. Jackson Garden-Bachop also produced a strong complete game at pivot and did well to shake off some goal kick wobbles in the first half.

Auckland would have been disappointed in their effort. They were beaten in most areas up front, except for the scrum, and never put their attacking game into gear to threaten the comeback. Caleb Clarke had some positive moments, including an attempt in the second half to put his team to eight, but there was very little quality of sustained nature on the part of the locals.

The Auks weren’t expecting the same Wellington team that retired to that big loss to Waikato in the first round, and they certainly didn’t make it in the first 40 minutes as the visitors raced in five attempts to reach a decisive 29-14. . halftime advantage.

With the Lions forwards causing chaos in the breakout and Perenara warming up, after a rare day off in Hamilton, Wellington made no run in the first verse to repeatedly expose the Auckland defense, both on the media channels and on The width. It was mostly one-way traffic and the Ieremia men didn’t seem to be safe in reverse mode.

The Aucklanders actually got off to a pretty good start, with a characteristic lineout-drive attempt to hook Leni Apisai (their third of the fledgling season) for the opening 7-0 lead. As soon as Hoskins Sotutu got the lineout safely, there was never any question as the home forwards got their line-up expertly ordered.

But from then on there was no way to stop the Lions, who raced four straight attempts to take a 22-7 lead. Second five Aso had the first when he threw a loose pass from TJ Faiane to run 50 meters for the left touch; winger Goosen, in his 50th, the second when Garden-Bachop’s cross shot found the home defense marked absent; center Umaga-Jensen the third through Perenara’s expert chip kick; and fullback Proctor the fourth when a 9-10-15 scrum training ground move found a gaping hole in width.

Auckland running back Jonathan Ruru hit a key score just before halftime, following a succession of touches on the line from the ruck, to put the home team to eight (22-14), but there was still time for the Lions wing Pepesana Patafilo, a late replacement for Julian Savea, to end up deflected down the left after Goosen and Kirifi had combined to open up Auckland’s defense.

Auckland had to score first on the second spell to have any chance, and powerful wing Clarke obeyed in the 55th minute when he happily accepted a floating pass from Harry Plummer that just cleared Lions fullback Proctor. At 29-21, with Plummer’s conversion on the sideline, the home team was back.

But a Garden-Bachop penalty at the three-quarter mark extended the Lions’ lead to 11 and then Aso sealed the deal with seven minutes remaining when he crossed wide to the left after Aumua had done it splendidly to pick up a low pass, direct shot a hole and put his number 12 in space.

Wellington 39 (Vince Aso 2, Wes Goosen, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Billy Proctor, Pepesana Patafilo tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop pen, 3 cons), Auckland 21 (Leni Apisai, Jonathan Ruru, Caleb Clarke tries; Harry Plummer 3 cons). Height: 29-14.

MVP Points: Vince Aso 3, TJ Perenara 2, Caleb Clarke 1.