Wellington Lions v Otago stat attack (and Wellington’s 3,000th NPC try)

Above: Fulltime in the match. Image credit Sky Sport – watch the match highlights HERE 

The Wellington Lions defeated Otago on Wednesday night in their latest NPC match. Some facts and figures from the game below by Peter Marriott. 

Round 5 v Otago (Wednesday): Won 32-28

The Wellington Lions and Otago have now met in the NPC on 46 occasions. Wellington has won 27 times to Otago’s 17. There have been two drawn matches.

Wellington has won the last three matches against Otago including the two most recent matches played in Dunedin.

With their victory against Otago, Wellington has extended their record number of away wins on the trot to 13.

During the match the lead changed six times. Wellington only secured the win with one minute remaining on the clock.

The Lions have won their first six matches of the season for just the seventh time in 49 years of NPC competition.

This win has put Wellington at the top of the Round Robin standings for the first time this year.

The 3000th try in all NPC matches played by Wellington was scored in this match. The total now sits on 3001. Wellington has scored 1755 of those tries and opposition sides have collectively scored 1246.

Otago’s Hudson Creighton scored the 3000th try.

Wellington is two matches into the three they are playing in their “storm week”. They made 10 changes to the starting line-up from the XV which had started four days previously against Southland. There were six changes in the forwards and four changes in the backs.

Peter Umaga-Jensen captained the side again, for the third match in a row and fifth in total. He has maintained his 100% winning record.
Five players made their debut for the Lions against Otago.

Bradley Crichton, Harry Press and Ben Tuiomanufili all started whist Jeremiah Avei-Collins and Matolu Petaia went on as replacements. All five are forwards.

Sam Clarke appeared for the first time in 2024. He had made his debut in 2023 playing six games.

The five debutants, plus Clarke, took the number of players to have made at least one appearance this year to 37. That total includes 12 debutants.

Dominic Ropeti scored his third try in his 18th match for the Lions.

Nui Muriwai scored his first try, in his fourth match and first start.

Akira Ieremia touched down for his maiden NPC try in his 10th appearance.

PJ Sheck had to wait until his 33rd appearance to score his first try for Wellington.

Callum Harkin missed none of his five attempts at goal. He scored 12 points and now has a total of 26 in six matches for the Lions.

In the 62nd minute Tom Maiava thought he had scored his first try for Wellington. It was disallowed however, because he had put a knee in touch just before the try-line.

Stanley Solomon started for the first time in jersey No 15.

Three of the Otago try scorers had not previously scored against Wellington. They were Lucas Casey, Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Hudson Creighton.

Thomas Umaga-Jensen is the brother of Lions’ captain Peter but they did not oppose each other in this match. Peter went off at halftime and Thomas did not appear off the bench until the second half.

The other Otago try scorer, Henry Bell, had also touched down twice in the match at Wellington in 2022.

Cameron Millar kicked four points and now has 28 points in all matches against the Lions.

Referee Marcus Playle was in charge of his second match involving the Wellington Lions.

The Lions retained the Mike Gibson Memorial Trophy.

Wellington’s overall record in the NPC is: played 506 matches, won 322 (63.6%), lost 172 and drawn 12.