The Wellington Lions maintained their unbeaten start to the NPC season with a hard-fought 39-31 victory over a determined Manawatū side at Porirua’s Jerry Collins Stadium on Sunday. Despite losing captain Du’Plessis Kirifi to a yellow card and a suspected broken jaw, the Lions managed to pull off a dramatic late comeback to secure their third consecutive win of the season.
Wellington faced a significant challenge after Kirifi was sin-binned late in the first half for a dangerous tackle on Manawatū’s Reece MacDonald. The Turbos capitalised on Wellington’s numerical disadvantage, scoring two quick tries to take a 17-14 lead into halftime, turning what had initially seemed like a comfortable match for the home side into a tense battle.
(Fans and Lions show up in Pink to support charity Bellyful, a community group that help supply meals for those in need – to see more on Bellyfuls great work, visit: https://bellyful.org.nz/ )
The Lions struggled with discipline and handling errors throughout the game, which allowed the underdog Turbos to keep the scoreline close and even pull ahead several times. Wellington’s defence, which missed 14 tackles in the first half alone, faced relentless pressure from a Manawatū side eager to break their losing streak.
Manawatū, who have struggled in the NPC this season, showed remarkable resilience, with standout performances from Slade McDowall and Reece MacDonald. They managed to build a 31-24 lead with just 15 minutes left, putting them in sight of their first victory over Wellington since 2016.
However, Wellington’s star No. 8 Peter Lakai, who was instrumental throughout the match, stepped up when it mattered most. Lakai scored two tries, including one in the final quarter that shifted the momentum back in Wellington’s favour. Winger Tjay Clarke then sealed the comeback with a crucial try seven minutes before full time, giving the Lions a 36-31 lead.
Manawatū fought hard to respond, but Wellington’s defence held firm, and a late penalty from Jackson Garden-Bachop put the result beyond doubt.
Despite the victory, Wellington will be concerned about the potential loss of Kirifi for future matches, as they aim to continue their strong start to the season. Meanwhile, Manawatū, still without a point on the table, can take solace in their spirited performance, which was their best of the season so far.
The win sees Wellington retain the Coronation Cup and extend their record to 3-0 for the season, while Manawatū remains winless at the bottom of the standings.
Full-Time Score: Wellington 39, Manawatū 31.
Meanwhile Wellington Pride were outpaced by a very impressive Manawatu Cyclones:
