Lions roar into the Final

Wellington forwards too strong for Mooloo Men

The Wellington Lions ensured they will host the 2004 Air New Zealand NPC Final, when they overcame a willing Waikato team, beating them 28-16 at the Cake Tin in Wellington on Friday in the first of the weekend's semi-finals.

The Lions used their stronger forwards to grind down the Mooloo Men in what was generally a disappointing semi-final - mainly because the visitors failed to lift their game against a Wellington team that was quite prepared to do just enough to win.

In the end Wellington outscored Waikato by four tries to one, which was a fair reflection of the game.

The Lions opened the scoring in the third minute, when they rumbled up from a line-out and scrum-half Piri Weepu, who was controlling the ball at the back of the maul, went over for the try. Weepu couldn't add the conversion, but his team had a 5-0 lead.

Waikato's first points came from a drop-goal by blindside flanker Liam Messam.

First five-eighths Riki Flutey soon landed a drop-goal for the Lions, which took the score to 8-3 after 13 minutes.

David Hill was next to score when he landed a penalty from 42 metres out to narrow the gap to just two points. He then slotted another as Waikato took the lead in the 30th minute - 9-8.

Weepu had a few shots at goal himself, but his kicking game let him down and it wasn't until the 40th minute that the Lions managed to score again. Hard-working prop Neemia Tialata went over for a try from a line-out in another strong Wellington drive.

That left the score at 13-9 at half-time.

The Lions came closer to scoring soon after the break. Their two powerful All Black backline stars Ma'a Nonu and Tana Umaga combined, before Nonu burst over. But the TMO ruled that he had lost the ball in the tackle.

When the points did eventually come, it started with two mistakes. First the Lions knocked on and Waikato failed to find touch from the resulting clearance. The Lions launched a blistering counterattack which was finished by Lome Fa'atau some 70 metres downfield.

Again the conversion failed, but it was 18-9 and three tries (and a penalty) against three penalties.

When Waikato failed to control a high kick in the 65th minute, Wellington's Conrad Smith collected to go over and score the fourth try. Weepu finally landed a conversion and soon added a penalty as the Lions raced into a 28-9 lead.

Waikato finally started to launch some serious attacks and eventually in the 73rd minute David Hill crossed for their only try. Hill converted to make it 28-16.

The Mooloo Men launched a series of raids on the Lions' line, but they failed to convert them into points, and their season come to an unhappy end.

Wellington will host next week's NPC Final, but must wait till Saturday's other semi-final - between Canterbury and Bay of Plenty - to see who their opponents will be.

The scorers:

For Wellington:
Tries: Weepu, Tialata, Fa'atau, Smith
Con: Weepu
Pen: Weepu
DG: Flutey

For Waikato:
Try: Hill
Con: Hill
Pens: Hill 2
DG: Messam