Wellington 38 Tasman 25
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Wellington's liquorice allsorts of an Air NZ Cup rugby campaign continued tonight when they beat Tasman 38-25.
Their form has been indifferent to say the least, highlighted by a stunning opening round win over Otago and low-lighted by a surprise loss in the wet to Hawke's Bay.
They were both good and not so good at home against a tenacious Tasman tonight, showing vast improvement at scrum time after their set piece deficiencies had been exposed in earlier matches.
But there was little of the assured backplay Wellington teams often deliver, as Tasman hustled and bustled the match favourites throughout.
Wellington led 16-13 at halftime after playing into a significant breeze for the opening 40 minutes but did not skip clear until the final quarter to register their third win in five outings.
Jimmy Gopperth, whose form has been as patchy as his team's, played his part with 18 points points from the boot in a generally composed performance at first five-eighth.
The game was five minutes old when Tasman first five-eighth James Foote opened the scoring with a crisply struck dropped goal from 40m out before Gopperth responded with a penalty 8min later.
Wellington were perhaps fortunate to be awarded their opening try in the 19th minute, when flanker Faifili Levave flirted with being offside before intercepting a pass from halfback Lualua Vailoaloa and being left with an unimpeded run to the line.
There was nothing contentious about Tasman's response from left wing Blair Cook, though, after centre Caleb Ralph made a half break in the 29th minute before feeding fullback Robbie Malneek, who found Cook looming in support by the left-hand touchline.
Gopperth landed further penalties either side of the interval as Wellington entered the final quarter ahead just 19-13 but growing in confidence as the weight of possession began tilting their way.
That was rewarded in the 61st minute when their best player, fullback Cory Janes, pushed off Malneek for a try which Gopperth converted to give Wellington a 13-point buffer.
They quickly extended that with a try made and scored by second five-eighth Tamati Ellison, who initiated a midfield break, cleverly kicked on the angle for Robert Fruean and was on hand to accept the winger's pass with the tryline in sight.
Tasman showed some ticker to come back with a late try to flanker Jonathan Poff, even if he benefited from the generosity of the referee, Keith Brown, in ignoring Wellington's claims that Poff's short surge to the line aided by a teammate's obstruction.
Wellington secured their bonus-point fourth try when replacement hooker Dane Coles burrowed over from close range 3min from fulltime.
There was still time for Tasman to produce the best try of the game after the hooter when a defiant breakout from their own 22 resulted in Malneek scoring at the other end.
All Blacks prop Neemia Tialata played the second half for Wellington at the request of the national selectors, who decided he needed game time ahead of their departure to the World Cup next week.
Wellington 38 (Faifili Levave, Cory Jane, Tamati Ellison, Dane Coles tries; Jimmy Gopperth 4 pen, 3 con) Tasman 25 (Blair Cook, Jonathan Poff, Robbie Malneek tries; James Foote pen, dropped goal, con, Tim Taylor con). Halftime: 16-13.
- NZPA
