Wellington end Taranaki's season

MATCH REPORT & HIGHLIGHTS: Wellington put the full stop on Taranaki’s season of misery, dooming them to relegation to the NPC next season, as a result of their 34-10 win at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth.

In the process, in a game dominated by a wind blowing straight down the field, with a bonus point try, Wellington secured their place in the Premiership semifinals, shutting out North Harbour who play Auckland on Sunday.

If any side has playing into the wind in their DNA it should be Wellington, and they played like it in the draughty conditions at New Plymouth. It was a niggly game with referee Ben O’Keefe forced to issue a strong warning midway through the first half when Wellington dominated possession, and position.

Wellington unity, after a tap penalty on their own 22m line, was demonstrated with some running rugby resulting from second five-eighths Bill Proctor which was carried on superbly by No.8 Teariki Ben-Nicholas and lock James Blackwell before flank Vaea Fifita, who looked to enjoy the romp, emerged from a ruck near the line to commit two tacklers, beat them, and stretch out for the opening try four minutes into the game.

Taranaki responded with a 12th minute try catching Wellington unawares. Halfback Warwick Lehmert, who was a genuine firestarter for the home team, was stationed at the front of a lineout 35m out from Wellington line. The ball was thrown to him, and he broke past two defenders and then beat tackles just before crossing for the try.

Dominating possession at 81 percent for the first half, Wellington forced the home side to make 125 tackles compared to 17 of their own while ensuring Taranaki’s opportunities were minimal.

Wellington blew some scoring chances due to poor passing and catching but they sealed the halftime lead at 12-10 when three minutes from the break a five-metre scrum allowed powerful No.8 Ben-Nicholas to run the blind from the scrum and get over for the try.

Turning to play into the wind, Taranaki attempted to match the Wellington close-quarter forward play from the first half, but at their first attempt to drive their way out they turned the ball over. Wing Ben Lam tidied it and from the ruck play, replacement first five-eighths Trent Renata slipped a grubber kick through for centre Matt Proctor to run through, gather the bouncing ball and slip through tacklers to score.

Taranaki looked to up the tempo and were making progress out of their half but in looking to move the ball wide, they gave Wellington wing Malo Tuitama the sniff of an intercept and he took it to secure the bonus point try for the side.

It wasn’t a night for fullbacks but when an attempted Taranaki play saw Wes Goosen get his hands on the ball, he ran back to midfield then straight ahead to set up play in the 22m area. While Taranaki won the counter ruck, replacement fullback Latu Vaeno’s attempted kick ahead rebounded and as replacement hooker Dane Coles tidied the ball for the ruck, it was replacement prop Sitiveni Paongo who stretched out in the tackle to score.

For a season that started with the Ranfurly Shield, but foundered on a long injury list, it was a frustrating end for Taranaki.

The Scorers:

For Taranaki
Try: Warwick Lahmert
Con: Beaudein Waaka
Pen: Beaudein Waaka

For Wellington
Tries: Vaea Fifita, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Matt Proctor, Malo Tuitama, Sitiveni Paongo
Cons: Jackson Garden-Bachop 2; Trent Renata
Pen: Jackson Garden-Bachop

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