Wellington Lions v Manawatu Turbos Stat Attack

Ories teammates collide. Manawatu’s Pena Va’a and Wellington’s Julian Savea meet in their match on Sunday. Photo: Andy McArthur.

Wellington beat Manawatu 39-31 in their third round NPC match on Sunday at Porirua Park. Some facts and figures by Peter Marriott.

Round 3 v Manawatu: Won 39-31

The two sides have met on 30 occasions in NPC matches. Wellington has won 22 times to Manawatu’s eight.

Wellington has won the last six matches in a row.

The Lions have won their opening three matches of the season for the 14th time in 49 years of NPC rugby.

Of the 14 matches Wellington has now hosted Manawatu, the home side has won 11 to the visitor’s three matches.

Manawatu’s last win in Wellington was at the then called Westpac Stadium in 2015. Manawatu won 39-33, a score very similar to the one in this match although in reverse.

The score at halftime was 17-17. This is the fourth time in the last 11 years Wellington has been level with their opposition after 40 minutes. They have won on the last three occasions but the loss at the beginning of the sequence was to Manawatu at Wellington in 2014 when after going to the break at 6-6, they eventually lost 21-27.

The Lions have yet to concede a penalty: the only side not to have done so far this season.

The Lions have now played five NPC matches at the Jerry Collins Stadium in Porirua. They have won the last three in a row after having lost the first two.

Wellington played Manawatu for the first time at Porirua. Their previous 13 home encounters had been held at Athletic Park (six times for six wins) and at Westpac Stadium/Sky Stadium (seven times for four wins and three losses).

In all NPC matches Wellington has now conceded a total of 1,237 tries. That figure is made up of 619 tries at home venues and 618 tries at away venues.

The eight point winning margin enjoyed by Wellington against Manawatu is their smallest since beating them 11-3 at Palmerston North in 2006.

Referee Jono Bredin had previously been in charge of only one match which involved Wellington. That was their first defence of the Ranfurly Shield against Waikato in 2022 after having won it from Hawke’s Bay the previous week.

Two players made their debut in the match for the Wellington Lions.

Nui Muriwai replaced halfback Kyle Preston in the 50th minute and Kazuki Kato replaced prop Xavier Numia at the same time. Kato was later injured and had to be replaced himself.

The two new players brought the number who have made at least one appearance so far this season to 30, including six who have made their debut.

Du’Plessis Kirifi was issued with a yellow card at the 31 minute mark. It was the first for a Lions player in 2024. He was also injured in the same incident and did not return to the field after his 10 minute time penalty elapsed. Brad Shields replaced Kirifi off the bench.

Peter Lakai scored two tries, the second time he has scored more than one in a game. He scored three against Taranaki at Wellington in 2022. He now has six tries in 25 matches. It was his first against Manawatu.

Pepesana Patafilo scored his 16th try in his 47th match for the Lions. It was his second try against Manawatu.

Riley Higgins’ try was his ninth in 21 appearances for the Lions. It was also his first against Manawatu.

Tjay Clarke was the fourth try scorer. He now has five in 10 matches: it was his first try against Manawatu. Clarke has scored a try in each of the three Lions’ opening matches this season.

Jackson Garden-Bachop kicked 14 points to take his total in 92 matches for the Lions to 735. He is now just 14 points short of passing the late Mick Williment’s 748 points and moving into third place on the all-time point scoring list for Wellington.

Garden-Bachop’s fourth and final conversion was his 200th in Wellington colours. He is the first player to reach this milestone. The overall top point scorer, Allan Hewson, is in second place with 172 conversions.

This was the Charity Round and the Wellington team played in pink jerseys and socks in support of the non-profit organisation Bellyful.
Wellington retained the Coronation Cup.

Wellington’s overall record in the NPC is: played 503 matches, won 319 (63.4%), lost 172 and drawn 12.