Lions Win In Wellington

Tries in the opening half from Gethin Jenkins and in the 36th minute of the second from Gareth Thomas helped the Lions to a 23-6 win over Wellington.

Tries in the opening half from Gethin Jenkins and in the 36th minute of the second from Gareth Thomas helped the Lions to a 23-6 win over Wellington.

Showing much more cohesion and aggression, quicker and in greater numbers to the breakdown than they were in Hamilton, the Lions, having led 13-6 at the break.

To give an indication of how dominant the Lions were in that opening period, it was only in the second quarter that the home side managed to get themselves into the Lions half. They ended up with a Jimmy Gopperth penalty to show for their efforts adding to that on the stroke of half time with a second penalty from the home out-half. Those two ocassions aside, it had been a Lions dominated half.

After two drop-goal attempts from Jonny Wilkinson and Gavin Henson had gone wide, the Lions took the lead when Wilkinson landed his first penalty in the 8th minute after Wellington were penalised for taking-out Martin Corry.

Wilkinson should have extended that lead seven minutes later but missed an easy kick. However, he made amends with a successful effort in the 24th minute.

The first try should have arrived when Corry, with three backs outside, surged for the line himself, was stopped inches short and Ben Kay following up, knocked-on over the line.

When the opening try did come, five minutes before the break, it was simplicity itself inspired by Dwayne Peel. He broke through a line-out, fed Corry who gave the scoring pass to Gethin Jenkins. Wilkinson added the extras and the B&I Lions were on their way.

For those Lions supporters expecting a second half rout there was disappointment. After an early penalty which only came about because Wellington played themselves into trouble, the Lions had to wait until four minutes from time for their next score.

That came as a result of a dropped pass as Wellington attacked the Lions 22. Thomas gathered the loose ball, kicked downfield and easily won the race for the touchdown.