Rugby: Gear sparks Wellington victory

Hosea Gear of the Lions shrugs off the tackle of Kahn Fotuali'i of Hawkes Bay. Photo / Getty Images

A burst of three tries in 12 minutes proved the difference as Wellington pipped Hawke's Bay 17-13 in an uninspriring ITM Cup match today.

Winger Hosea Gear returned from injury to spark two of the three tries between minutes 25 and 37 which ensures Wellington remain among the competition frontrunners while Hawke's Bay remain languishing with one win through the first eight rounds.

The visitors raced to a 10-0 lead in the first 15 minutes and scored the only second-half points through a penalty to winger Richard Buckman.

However, they lacked the cutting edge of the Wellington outside back division, who were behind the decisive triple strike while playing into a swirling wind in the first spell.

Gear began what Hawke's Bay skipper Jason Shoemark described as the ``Hosea show'' with a brilliant try from a standing start. He produced an in-and-away to wrong foot Buckman and accelerated from 30m out to defeat the cover defence.

Fellow-wing Alipate Leiua cut through in sizzling fashion from 50m to set up the second, to centre Tajhon Mailate, while Gear turned provider soon afterwards, busting through two defenders to send young first five-eighth Lima Sopaga over in the left corner.

Sopoaga's goalkicking struggles kept Hawke's Bay in the hunt, as he and Charlie Ngatai landed just one shot from seven between them for Wellington while Buckman slotted three from three shots.

That included the conversion of an outstanding 15th-minute try to usual halfback Kahn Fotuali'i, who lined up at first five-eighth. The 80m effort began with a burst from hooker Hika Elliot, who backed up some slick team interchanges to throw the final pass.

Wellington ended a two-match losing streak and are guaranteed to be fifth when the round finishes tomorrow, five points off the pace set by leaders Southland.

Wellington 17 (Hosea Gear, Tajhon Mailata, Lima Sopoaga tries; Sopoaga con) Hawke's Bay 13 (Kahn Fotuali'i try; Richard Buckman 2 pen, con). Halftime: 17-10

- NZPA