KEY POINTS:
Wellington coach Jamie Joseph can thank his powerful loosies for the abrasive second-half effort that won last night's match in Invercargill. But he can also thank his lucky stars not to have been 15 points in arrears by the time the first half was done.
The Wellington loosies were at the heart of a stout defence that kept Southland out in the hectic first half, No 8 Thomas Waldrom somehow got underneath winger Matt Saunders over the tryline. Flanker Serge Lilo performing similar heroics.
Halfback Alby Mathewson scored the opening try in the 16th minute after a second Southland scrum meltdown. He soon had a yellow card for a cynical foul on the tryline.
The Stags poured more heat on to the visitor's tryline, but when they weren't lacking a clinical finish, they lacked luck. Tu Umaga-Marshall got a foot under the ball as first five-eighths Blair Stewart dived under the posts.
Southland hooker David Hall got their only reward, blasting over in the corner just before halftime.
A Stewart break in the 62nd minute somehow ended with Victor Vito and Chris Masoe sending Corey Jane over under the sticks for the try that sealed it. Substitute Masoe then crossed in the corner and Tamati Ellison nabbed a late intercept to finish things off.
Southland 7 (David Hall, try. Blair Stewart, con)
Wellington 26 (Alby Mathewson, Corey Jane, Chris Masoe, Tamati Ellison tries. Piri Weepu, con 3). HT: 7-7
