Historic win for Turbos

BY PETER LAMPP

It's not every day, nor even any century, that a Manawatu side beats a Wellington team in the capital.

They did yesterday 35-29 at a sunny Porirua Park, a Turbos team reinvented after their nosedive against Bay of Plenty.

History shows that since 1887, Manawatu have never won at Wellington.

So no wonder Turbos parents had smiles as wide as the Manawatu Gorge after the win, five tries apiece.

Peter Crosswell watched son Mitchell's shoulder charge on Wellington lock Daniel Ramsay as he was about to score with time up. Phew, up went the touch judge's flag and the final whistle shrilled.

It all but repeated last season's 38-19 win at Palmerston North.

Wellington were missing a few but they had All Black props Neemia Tialata and John Schwalger, and other hot men like Julian Savea, Jeremy Thrush and Shaun Treeby.

Manawatu got by without Shannon Paku, Karl Haitana, Callum Gibbins and Aaron Cruden.

The Turbos needed the win for their own self-belief.

"It was a bit of a change in mindset," said skipper Grant Polson.

He coveted the win, ordering Craig Clare to twice go for goal in the last six minutes.

"Last week we got taught a lesson in intensity," Polson said. "This one was good for us and the public, to win a game against the big brother from Wellington.

"We can't step backwards next week against Hawke's Bay."

Coach Dave Rennie was happier with the defence and the structure. The training hours obviously paid off.

"You've got to take it into the context that they have a lot of firepower to come back," Rennie said.

"But it was certainly a big step up from last week. We were able to apply a lot of pressure and turn it into points. There was a lot better attitude this week.

"We had a reasonable lead at halftime [21-10] and gave it up pretty quickly. It would have been easy to fold from there but the boys came back strongly."

The Turbos continued to concede soft tries. Rennie put some of it down to communication, but all five were given rather than earned.

It proved a big step for centre Asaeli Tikoirotuma from Heartland rugby. His chip kick gifted a try and he was later burnt off by Hurricanes centre Alapati Leuia.

Halfback Aaron Smith made a huge break from a wonky Wellington scrum only to pass to the enemy and a try resulted a few waves later.

NZ under-20 star Savea exploded through Isaac Thompson to put Buxton Popolai'i across 60 metres away for another gift. The fifth came with Manawatu asleep at a quick lineout throw, to trail 29-21.

Fortunately the Turbos scored twice in eight minutes to seal it, one after waves of attacks and the other when Casey Stone at pace put Karl Bryson across. Their wide passing, the rapid recycling and urgent foraging proved too quick for Wellington and the tackling was desperate. The lineout was also repaired.

Lock Mike Fitzgerald was at his best, taking kickoffs, hitting big or sending a skip pass from which Junior Tomasi Cama put Craig Clare over.

Again Clare and second-five Hadleigh Parkes were class. Lote Raikabula was a finisher for two tries, one after a great dummy by flanker Doug Tietjens. From a rare stable scrum, a Thompson flick put Raikabula over under the sticks.

The Turbos' squad will be named next week but the No8 question remains unresolved.

Who played for Manawatu: 15 Craig Clare, 14 Junior Tomasi Cama (Casey Stone 49m), 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Tevita Taufui 49m), 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Lote Raikabula, 10 Isaac Thompson (Francis Bryant 61m), 9 Aaron Smith (Karl Bryson 61m), 8 Bertus Mulder (Mitchell Crosswell 55m), 7 Doug Tietjens, 6 James Oliver (Nick Crosswell 55m), 5 Mike Fitzgerald, 4 Reece Robinson (Fraser Stone 63m), 3 Ma'afu Fia (Shane Kingsland 59m), 2 Rob Foreman (Sean O'Connor 49m), 1 Grant Polson (captain).

Scorers: Manawatu 35 (Lote Raikabula 26m, 36m, Craig Clare 4m, Tevita Taufui 62m, Karl Bryson 67m, tries; Isaac Thompson 3 con; Craig Clare 2 con). Wellington 29 (Alapati Leuia 2m, 43m, Lima Sopoaga 30m, Buxton Popoalii 56m, Mark Reddish 59m; Sopoaga, Hayden Cripps cons) HT 21-10.

- © Fairfax NZ News