Lions hosting semi-final on Saturday and charity game on Sunday

Two different types of matches in Wellington this weekend, both important in their own way.

On Saturday night, the Wellington Lions host the Waikato Mooloo in their NPC semi-final, and on Sunday the Āhuru Mōwai Trust team play the Parliamentary Sports Trust selection in a SOCKtober charity match.

The Wellington Lions will host a team of battlers coming into form at the right end of the season, Waikato having defeated last year’s winners Taranaki 15-14 in last week’s quarter-final. The Lions defeated Counties Manukau in the opening weekend of knockout fixtures.

The two teams didn’t meet in the round-robin.

The winner will face either Bay of Plenty or Canterbury in next week’s final, with the Lions set to host the final if they beat Waikato.

From the 10-match round-robin, Wellington finished first and Waikato seventh, but the two teams had similar points for and against records. Wellington scored 311 points and conceded 264, while Waikato scored 298 points and let in 246. Wellington scored 49 tries and Waikato 43.

Expect a close, high-scoring match, as is the clear pattern of Wellington-Waikato matches throughout modern history. The last time they met was last year’s quarter-final and Wellington won 32-28 – a typical scoreline in this series.

Wellington and Waikato have met 47 times at NPC level, with Wellington having won 27 and Waikato 20 of these.

Wellington has won their last three matches in a row against Waikato.

This will be Wellington’s 19th Semifinal match since their first in 1999. Of their 18 previous semi-finals they have won 13 and lost five.

In Wellington team news, injuries and All Black selections have seen some rotation to the line-up from that which won last week.

Leni Apisai returns to the front row and Brad Shields returns from injury to the starting XV.

Kyle Preston comes back into the starting lineup at half-back, with Old Boys University teammate Callum Harkin starting at first-five in place of Jackson Garden-Bachop who remains on 99 matches for the Lions. Matt Proctor replaces brother Billy in the midfield.

Changes to the reserves, including Tom Maiava and Stanley Solomon back on to the pine.

The two teams are:

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Sunday’s charity game is for the Āhuru Mōwai Trust and part of their SOCKtober campaign this year which helps them continue to support families raising children with extra and special needs “You might not be able to walk a mile in their shoes, but you can wear some socks to show your support.”

The day at Ngati Toa Domain sees the Āhuru Mōwai Trust Invitational Netball and Rugby Teams take on the Parliamentary Sports Trust teams.

The Netball Centre pass is at 10:00am at the Ngatitoa Domain Netball Courts with the Rugby to follow with a kick off on the #2 Field at 11:30am.

There will be BBQ food and Hangi to purchase for lunch, along with a collection, some auction items and the opportunity to purchase some charity socks in the Paremata-Plimmerton Rugby Club after the games have been completed.

If you can’t make it along and want some to support the cause here’s a couple of ways how you can:

Purchase some SOCKtober Charity Socks
https://dynastyteamstore.co.nz/collections/ahuru-mowai-trust

Donate to the cause:
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/amt-socktober-charity-sportacular?fbclid=IwY2xjawF-t0FleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHX0JI4LAplyPKak6JdwRUVkei4V-Mt8ReZpLPyJskLOZ47jN03rSFKRmew_aem_hw9UQYgkUJtplxu7E6rNzg

The Āhuru Mōwai Trust Invitational Rugby team is: