Rugby: Lions secure home semifinal

Wellington Lions Apoua Stewart. Photo / Getty Images

Wellington 22
Tasman 14

Southland's Ranfurly Shield-lifting festivities were tempered momentarily as Wellington denied the holders the added bonus of an Air NZ Cup rugby home semifinal by shading Tasman 22-14 in Blenheim.

Wellington secured second spot on the ladder behind Canterbury and will host Southland in one semifinal next weekend while Tasman face a battle off the field to survive another season.

Last year's beaten finalists Wellington remain on track for another crack at the final after subduing a gallant Tasman side who improved dramatically on scoreless exercises against Southland and Otago in the past fortnight.

They outscored Wellington two tries to one, with the visitors missing the missing the bulk of their All Black contingent although centre Conrad Smith ran on after halftime.

A leading candidate for exclusion from next year's new Premier Division, Tasman were buoyed by a partisan crowd at Landsdowne Park, refusing to lie down in the presence of the province's public enemy No 1 -- New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew.

Moments of ill-discipline finally gave Wellington the breathing space they required -- penalties to first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili and halfback Piri Weepu the point of difference.

Weepu's trio of strikes from the 65th minute ensured Wellington were safe although Daniel Perrin's barge over from the close-range lineout he fed in the 68th minute made the visitors sweat.

A high-speed encounter had an error count to match though both sides supplied rare moments of class -- in quick succession.

Mobile lock Daniel Ramsey opened the scoring for Wellington in the 15th minute by finding himself at the end of an expansive back movement.

Fili added the extras but Tasman needed only three minutes to negate the try -- and score their first points since Andrew Goodman's match-winning dropped goal against Northland on October 4.

Captain Goodman was again the provider, pivot James Marshall chasing down his pinpoint grubber kick to score.

Tasman made Wellington work for every point as they dominated the key facets of the first half.

A firm track and clear overhead conditions favoured Tasman's expansive game plan but too often the hands let them down before Weepu preyed on their indiscretions at the breakdown.

Crucially, by the final whistle, Tasman committed 13 handling errors to eight and copped a 13-7 penalty count from referee Matt Stanish.

On a positive note for the All Blacks, centre Smith emerged unscathed from his 40-minute workout and will fly out with the team to Tokyo on Sunday.

Wellington 22 (Daniel Ramsey try; Fa'atonu Fili 2 pen con, Piri Weepu 3 pen) Tasman 14 (James Marshall, Daniel Perrin tries; Andrew Goodman 2 con). Halftime: 13-7.

- NZPA