Rugby: Wellington sombre despite milestone

WELLINGTON - Wellington's dressing-room was a remarkably sombre place yesterday after they had beaten Otago 36-16 to reach the semifinals of the NPC first-division rugby championship for the first time.

Anyone walking in who did not know the result could have been forgiven for thinking Wellington had lost.

There was no shouting or signs of elation. Most of the players just sat or talked quietly, and took time to reflect on what had just occurred.

In securing a bonus point for scoring at least four tries, Wellington finished the preliminary series with 29 points, the same as fellow playoff qualifiers North Harbour.

However, with Wellington having beaten North Harbour they slipped in to third place, and now have an easier semifinal against second qualifiers Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday.

Wellington's rugby credibility had taken such a battering in recent years, and at last, on old-timers' day, the union had something tangible for its season.

After the match all the excitement was out on the field at Athletic Park where many of the crowd of 30,000 had run on to savour the occasion, and sing songs of farewell with the ground about to be demolished after 103 years.

It almost looked as though Otago were going to spoil Wellington's party when they led 13-0 at halftime, and were on course to maintain their unbeaten record against the Lions since 1989.

Wellington coach Graham Mourie thought Wellington had done well in to the stiff northerly wind, and did not regard the 13-point deficit as a huge obstacle provided his players were swift to reply after halftime.

"We were just a little bit disappointed because a couple of close calls didn't go our way in the first half," Mourie said.

"We had to make sure we played smart in the second half. At halftime [back coach Dave Rennie] talked about a couple of things in the backs which paid dividends."

Mourie had his wish two minutes after the break when from a planned backline move, centre O'Halloran scythed his way through untouched, and scored by the posts. David Holwell kicked the conversion.

Wellington were not ahead though until the 57th minute when lock Inoke Afeaki scored one of Wellington's six tries, from a five-metre scrum on the Otago line.

Well before the end Wellington were in control, and all Otago had to show in the second half was a Matthew Carrington penalty goal. - NZPA