Former All Blacks wing Julian Savea scored two tries as Wellington beat Taranaki 26-19 in Round 2 of the NPC.
The experience wing crossed in the 51st and 65th minutes as the Lions came from 19-5 down to win while scoring the last 21 points of the match in horrid conditions at Porirua’s Jerry Collins Stadium.
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The win was Wellington’s second while the defending champion Bulls are now 1-1, with a need to address the falloff in their second half.
Taranaki opened the scoring through hooker Ricki Riccitelli in the third minute and wing Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens added another in the 21st minute for a 12-0 lead.
Outside back TJay Clarke got one back for the Lions minutes later but lock Tom Franklin had the last say for Taranaki before the half, putting them up 19-5.
Two penalties from Jackson Garden-Bachop closed the gap, before Savea crossed for his brace to take the lead for the first time, then replacement hooker Leni Apisai secured the win in the 79th minute.
Bay of Plenty had to contend with wet and windy conditions in Tauranga against North Harbour, storming back for a 24-20 win.
The home side scored a try to fullback Cole Forbes ruled out but made up for it in the 23rd minute when wing Emoni Narawa crashed over from a goalline ruck. Ten minutes later,
A move by halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi on the blind, and a long pass put left-wing Reon Paul in at the corner.
However, six minutes before the half, fullback Shaun Stevenson, who earlier in the move had chased a kick ahead that was dropped by Bay defenders, got the ball, grubber-kicked ahead and then won the chase to the in-goal to score.
Five minutes into the second half, first five-eighths Tane Edmed landed a penalty goal to claim a one-point lead before his pack minutes later secured a rolling maul try through hooker Sione Mafile'o.
But a superb Tahuriorangi break around the back of a lineout opened up space, which saw replacement loose forward Joe Johnston in support to score.
After another try was over-ruled, the Bay claimed the lead with 17 minutes left when Paul scored his second try.
In another match hampered by rain, Waikato scored the only try of the second half to beat Counties Manukau 26-20 at Pukekohe's Navigation Homes Stadium.
Counties Manukau were leading Waikato 17-12, when lock William Furniss was sent to the sin-bin after 33 minutes. This allowed Waikato the chance to take advantage and score through flanker Senita Lauaki to level the scores.
First-five Taha Kemara's converted and the visitors moved ahead 19-17 at halftime.
That came after the home team scored first at Pukekohe through prop Simon-Peter Toleafoa, followed six minutes later by No 8 Adam Brash. Waikato No8 Patrick McCurran responded in the 20th minute.
In the second half, the wet conditions made handling difficult with lock Laghlan McWhannell scoring the only try of the half after 50 minutes.
Counties first-five AJ Alatimu landed a penalty goal as Kemara was sin-binned in the last minute of the game.
Wellington 26 (TJay Clarke, Julian Savea 2, Leni Apisai tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 2 pen) Taranaki 19 (Ricki Riccitelli, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Tom Franklin tries; Josh Jacomb 2 con). HT: 5-19
Bay of Plenty 24 (Emoni Narawa, Reon Paul 2, Joe Johnson tries; Kyle Trask 2 con) North Harbour 20 (Shaun Stevenson, Sione Mafile’o tries; Tane Edmed 2 con, 2 pen). HT: 12-10
Waikato 26 (Austin Anderson, Patrick McCurran, Seneti Lauaki, Laghlan McWhannell tries; Taha Kemara 3 con) Counties Manukau 20 (Simon-Peter Toleafoa, Adam Brash tries; AJ Alatimu 2 con, 2 pen). HT: 19-17
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