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Hamish Gosling celebrates - Source: Photosport
Manawatu have secured their first win of the season with a 36-24 upset win over Wellington in Palmerston North this afternoon.
The Turbos - 13th placed going into the match - were dominant at the breakdown and with some outstanding individual tries were deserved winners over their Hurricanes franchise partners.
The home side showed great heart in the win and looked a different side to the team thrashed by a record margin three weeks ago.
Wellington were starved of territory and possession for much of the match and found themselves on the wrong end of a 12-7 penalty count, continually being penalised at the breakdown.
Manawatu came out all guns blazing and were close to scoring in the second minute before Wellington lock Jeremy Thrush held the ball up short. However a strong scrum by the Turbos set up the play to put former Lion Shannon Paku over in the corner.
Isaac Thompson extended their lead to eight in the 17th minute with a penalty.
But Wellington fought back and a nice play by captain Rodney So'oialo of the back of a scrum and a break by newly-signed Highlander Shaun Treeby gave debutant Tajhon Mailata a try on debut.
They then took their first lead of the match when a favourable bounce off a kick propelled off the head of Wellington winger Alipate Leua. He regathered and ran 20 metres to score under the posts.
Manawatu scored their third penalty just before half-time to give them a 14-12 lead going into the break.
The Turbos continued their dominance in the second half and when Scott Fugistaller was sin-binned early, centre Hadleigh Parkes took advantage to score a brilliant individual try from halfway. Parkes was not held in an initial tackle and got to his feet to run through the Wellington defence and used his momentum to get across the line.
In the 64th minute second-five Frank Bryant made a break from 50 metres out and got a pass away to Lote Raikabula who was brought down in the Wellington 22. Halfback Aaron Smith spread the ball wide from the subsequent ruck and Lock Fraser Stone powered his way over near the left-hand touchline.
Wellington attempted to stage a comeback with 15 minutes to go and Wellington young gun Julian Savea stormed through some average Manawatu defence to bring them within striking distance - 7 points behind.
The game looked to be out of reach after Savea spilled the ball which was regathered from an offside position. Isaac Thompson extended the lead to 10 with eight minutes remaining but Treeby broke the Manawatu line to put Tajhon Mailata over again.
However Mailata chose not to score under the posts and Fa'atonu Fili missed the conversion leaving the lead at five with a minute to go.
Substitute Asaeli Tikoirotuma sealed the Manawatu victory after the hooter scoring an intercept try for the bonus point as Wellington searched for a long-range winner.
Manawatu: 36 (Shannon Paku, Hadleigh Parkes, Fraser Stone, Asaeli Tikoirotuma tries; Isaac Thompson 4 pen, con, Craig Clare con)
Wellington: 24 (Tajhon Mailata 2, Alipate Leiua, Julian Savea tries; Fa'atonu Fili 2 con).
Halftime: 14-12
