Wellington are the only team in the ITM Cup to remain winless in 2014 after they were thumped 46-12 by Canterbury in Christchurch on Friday.The Lions have had a miserable season and seem set for relegation unless they have a remarkable change in fortune. Canterbury took a while to click into gear but it mattered little as Wellington could not convert their early opportunities. When it did finally get going the red and black machine was unstoppable with Tom Taylor (two), Willi Heinz, Codie Taylor, Tom Sanders, Luke Whitelock and JJ Manning all scoring tries. But Tom Taylor, in his comeback from a fractured eye socket, struggled with his goal-kicking and slotted only five out of nine (four conversions and a penalty). Wellingtons points came from second-half tries to lock Christian Lloyd and captain Brad Shields and a solitary conversion from Jason Woodward. The defending champions led 15-0 at the break after Tom Taylor finished off a well-worked try on 14 minutes and Heinz scored an opportunist one off a Wellington mistake at the base of the scrum. Wellington were unable to profit when Canterbury lock Joel Everson was sent to the sinbin on 33 minutes for cynical play. They wasted the resulting five-metre lineout from the penalty and then when they were hot on attack again on the stroke of half-time they turned the ball over. Canterbury however, made the most of every chance offered to them and hooker Codie Taylor raced over for their third try just after the break when Wellingtons lineout misfired again. The Lions finally got on the scoreboard in the 52nd minute when Lloyd scored out wide. Despite having so little rugby recently Tom Taylor was good in general play and conjured up a second try for himself - and Canterburys fourth - when he chased his own kick and the bounce deceived Woodward leaving the first-five to gather and score. Taylors off-night with the boot was never going to be costly as the tries kept coming through Sanders, Whitelock and Manning. Whitelocks five-pointer was when Wellington centre Matt Proctor was in the sinbin. Shields scored at the death for the Lions but it was of scant consolation.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 07:30:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015