Senior

10/04/10 Wellington vs OBU

At a sun drenched Hataitai Park Wellington were defeated 19 -10. The Axemen in their first home game started strongly, but too many unforced errors saw them turn the ball over far too easily and on 15 minutes, a wayward kick lead to the first try to the OBU flying left winger. The conversion was successful.

Wellington regrouped, but continued to make simple handling errors meters from the opposition line. Finally just before the break John Liu’anna finished off a sweeping move with a try close to the posts. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful and the visitors led at the break 7 – 5.

The second half started badly for Wellington who received the kick off and placed themselves under immense pressure, by not clearing the ball. This began a long period of defence for the home side. The Axemen absorbed the OBU onslaught and finally cleared the ball.

Wellington then launched their first attack of the second half. OBU slapped the ball down and forward from the attacking movement which went unnoticed and resulted in the visitor’s scoring their second try. The conversion missed and they led 12 – 5.

Wellington then put pressure on the visitors deep inside their territory resulting in a try to replacement halfback Puga Semu with 10 minutes remaining. The conversion from the sideline by John Liu’anna to tie the game, hit the cross bar. From the kick off, OBU secured the ball and scored in the left hand corner. The conversion was successful and the visitors extended their led 19 – 10.

The Axemen spent the remainder of the game meters from the opposition goal and t desperately to score again, they were denied by some staunch defence. Missing out on a bonus point, Wellington will be ruing missed opportunities through simple handling mistakes, panicking and not playing to their game plan.

06/04/10 Wellington vs Poneke

Reigning Senior 2nd champions the “Axemen” commenced their campaign for promotion back to Senior 1st rugby with a comprehensive and hard fought 10 – 5 win against nemesis club Poneke in a local derby away at Kilbirnie park. That win insures the team’s first silverware of the season with the Ray “Spud” Lindsay Memorial Shield locked safely away in the depths of the Hataitai trophy cabinets for another season.

The game was only three minutes old when returning fullback John Liu’anna kicked an easy penalty to put the visitors ahead 3 - 0.

Wellington, playing with the wind, used the gusting north westerly wind well with half back Mike Peraki unleashing some deft kicks deep into the opposition half, turning the big Poneke pack at every opportunity. On the 15 minute mark a kick to the left hand corner saw the ball bounce favourably for a flying John Liu’anna who ran under the posts untouched to score the first try of the season. The resulting conversion extended the lead to 10 - 0.

Wellington continued to launch attacks at Poneke and a lineout 30 meters from the Poneke goal line was reminiscent of an out of control steam train...unstoppable! The Poneke forwards brought that maul to the grown a metre from their line which should have resulted at minimum in a Wellington penalty. Obviously, the referee is still catching up with the new rules...or the reinstatement of the old ones!!!

The Axemen should have scored again minutes later when a sweeping movement down the right wing. Although there was an overlap the movement ended with some solid one on one Poneke defence with the line begging. Turning into the wind after the break, the Axemen knew they would have to consolidate with only a ten point advantage by keeping the ball in hand and close to their strong running forwards. This tactic worked well but some impatience meant the ball was turned over by Poneke who then launched wave after wave of relentless attack deep inside the Wellington half.

Wellington’s defence was just as relentless with huge contributions from the entire Axemen outfit. The commitment and determination shown by the Wellington team was outstanding, setting a good benchmark to progress from for the rest of the season. A consolation try to Poneke on fulltime from a loose ball meant the game finished 10 -5.