Wellington enhance championship prospects

9.30pm

Wellington enhanced their championship prospects after beating Auckland 27-21 in their NPC first division rugby match at Westpac Stadium tonight.

Stout defence in the closing minutes from the home side denied Auckland's late rally to send the defending champions spiralling to another defeat.

Wellington scored four tries to secure the maximum five points, and despite Auckland getting a point by finishing within seven points, their semifinal prospects have been virtually extinguished.

Auckland winger Brent Ward landed a penalty to give Auckland the the first points of the match before Wellington hooker Mahonri Schwalger crashed over after a drive from the lineout.

Ward responded with another penalty, but Wellington captain Rodney So'oialo scored when he barrelled over the tryline to give the capital side a 10-6 lead.

Winger Lome Fa'atau scored late in the first half, finishing a superb movement that started inside the Wellington tryline.

Openside flanker Ben Herring instigated a turnover while Auckland were on attack, the ball was given to Fa'atau who ran to halfway, passed inside and then received the ball again after it was fed to another player to canter down the sideline and score.

The conversion from David Howell, who replaced Ma'a Nonu after suffering a suspected broken thumb, gave Wellington a 17-6 lead at the break.

Auckland began the second half in good fashion when Jerome Kaino scored and the Ward conversion cut Wellington's lead to four points.

The gap was reinstated when Herring crashed over from a Wellington maul that drove over 20 metres.

Another Howell conversion and later penalty had the home side comfortable ahead by 14 points.

Ward banged over an easy penalty with 10 minutes left, and Howell duly replied minutes later.

Auckland first five-eighth Tasesa Lavea scored the final try with five minutes remaining to set up a tight finish.

Wellington 27 (Mahonri Schwalger, Rodney So'oialo, Lome Fa'atau, Ben Herring tries; David Howell pen, 2 con)

Auckland 21 (Jerome Kaino, Tasesa Lavea tries; Brent Ward 3 pen, con).

Halftime: 17-6

- NZPA

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