Wellington Lions v Hawke’s Bay some numbers and stats

The Wellington Lions and Hawke’s Bay Magpies have now met 33 times in the NPC. Wellington has won 19 matches to Hawke’s Bay’s 12. There have been two drawn matches.

Hawke’s Bay has hosted the Lions 16 times for eight wins, seven losses and a draw.

Wellington won their previous away match to Hawke’s Bay: the Ranfurly Shield challenge in 2022 but have failed to win two matches in a row since winning four on the trot from 1976 to 1983. Two of those matches were played in Napier and two in Hastings.

Hawke’s Bay’s winning margin of 26 points is a new record for them against Wellington. Previously the largest margin had been 22 points in their 36-14 victory at Napier in the Ranfurly Shield challenge match in 2014.

Hawke’s Bay’s 45 points are also a new NPC highest score for them against Wellington bettering their 40-20 win at Napier in 2011.

Hawke’s Bay’s sixth and final try was the 1300th conceded by Wellington in all NPC matches. That total is made up of 649 tries at home venues and 651 at away venues.

After six rounds Wellington is in 11th place in the Standings, down from ninth position in the previous round.

Hawke’s Bay has moved up to fifth position, from sixth last week.

Matt Proctor took over the captaincy for this match: he is the third player after Brad Sheilds and Julian Savea to lead the Lions this season. Proctor was the incumbent captain in 2018 when he led the side in nine of the 11 matches they played that year. His last match had been the Semi-final against Auckland, at Auckland

Matt Proctor was sent-off for an HIA against Hawke’s Bay, which he failed.

Du’Plessis Kirifi took over the Wellington captaincy from 2019.

Wellington made five changes to their starting line-up from the previous week against Auckland. Two of those changes were in the backs and three in the forwards.

Three new players were introduced into the Lions side: Kapu Broughton-Winterburn, Cody Lokotui and Senio Sanele. All came off the bench.

A total of 33 players have now been used in the six rounds so far this year, including seven debutants.

And would you believe Cody Lokotui is the first player from the Wellington Club to play for the Lions since Vaea Fifita appeared in the match against Manawatu on 14 November 2020!

Wellington scored three tries against Hawke’s Bay.

The first was by Stanley Solomon who now has five tries from 14 appearances.

TJ Clarke scored his 11th try in his 25th match. He also scored in the match played at Wellington last year.

Esi Komaisavai’s try was his second in five matches.

Wellington could have had a fourth try.

Callum Harkin crossed the line in the 35th minute and although the on-field referee signalled a try, the TMO ruled it out because Harkin had not put any downward pressure on the ball. Harkin started this match in the No 12 jersey for the first time.

Dominic Ropeti, whose previous seven starts had either been in the No 4, No 6 or No 8 jersey, wore the No 7 jersey for the first time.

In his 10th match, Matolu Petaia made his first start (at No 8) after coming off the bench in all of his earlier matches. Kenshi Yamamoto also started his first match (at No 1).

Jackson Garden-Bachop kicked four points to take his total in 106 match appearances to 837. His total points against Hawke’s Bay is 73.

Hawke’s Bay scored six tries: for Miracle Fai’ilagi, Cooper Flanders, Lukas Ripley and Andrew Tauatevalu it was their first against Wellington.

Co-Captain Tom Parsons, playing in his 100th match for Hawke’s Bay, scored his second try against Wellington (the other was back in 2019) and Jonah Lowe scored his third having previously touched down in 2021 and 2023.

Harry Godfrey kicked nine points to go with the 18 he scored in last year’s match.

Zarn Sullivan (three conversions) rounded off the scoring. During the match he kicked a 50/22 which directly led to the try scored by Jonah Lowe.

Fraser Hannon was in charge of his second match which involved Wellington.

Wellington’s overall record in the NPC is: played 519 matches, won 329 (63.4%), lost 178 and drawn 12.