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As it happened: Waikato hold off Wellington to claim shock win in Hamilton

September 5, 2018

Relive 1 NEWS NOW's live updates of tonight's Mitre 10 Cup clash between Waikato and Wellington from FMG Stadium in Hamilton.

FT: WAI 43-31 WEL

That's it folks. Too little, too late for Wellington who make one last push after the hooter goes. A remarkable final 10 minutes from them but clinical work from Waikato in the first 60 has earned them this upset win. Wellington just looked disjointed tonight and the hosts were all over it. That's all from us folks. Pо̄ marie!

78min: WAI 43-31 WEL

WEL TRY! Wellington get a break in the midfield with Proctor and he links up to Filipo who runs away to score. Where was this for the first 60 minutes of the game?!

77min: WAI 43-26 WEL

WEL TRY! Waikato works the ball for 10 phases but Tuitama comes from nowhere to swipe an intercept on halfway and he's off and untouchable. That's the bonus point for Wellington.

75min: WAI 43-19 WEL

Wellington again attack down the left wing but again the final pass goes into touch. That's their third attacking chance wasted by a poor pass over the sideline. Waikato scrum 10m from halfway.

73min: WAI 43-19 WEL

WEL TRY! Filipo makes a break down the left wing after Wellington turn the ball over and offloads to his captain. Proctor runs it the rest of the way to score. At this point, they're just chasing a bonus point for four tries here.

70min: WAI 43-14 WEL

Wellington are penalised yet again and Waikato use it to find touch. Waikato lineout 10m inside Wellington's half.

68min: WAI 43-14 WEL

WAI TRY! Reece gets his hat-trick! The ball comes to the back line and they opt for a cheeky chip over the top. It's recovered by Tupaea inside Wellington's 22m and he flings it to Reece on the left wing. He runs away to score in the corner. That's probably the nail in the coffin.

66min: WAI 36-14 WEL

Waikato's forwards dominate at scrum time and after three resets, the ref has had enough and gives them a penalty with Wellington collapsing again. Kick for touch is good and it's a lineout 35m from Wellington's line.

63min: WAI 36-14 WEL

Wellington continue to hurt themselves. Work the ball for 10 phases and get to within 35m of Waikato's line but when the ball comes to the backs, there's another knock on. Waikato happy to take a scrum 10m from halfway.

60min: WAI 36-14 WEL

WAI TRY! Too easy. Waikato sets the maul and get over the line. Taukei’aho gets the credit but it was the entire pack getting the job done.

58min: WAI 29-14 WEL

Waikato's turn for an attack after Wellington are penalised for a head high tackle while chasing their kick. Fletcher-Smith with a beauty gives Waikato a lineout on Wellington's 5m.

57min: WAI 29-14 WEL

WEL TRY! Wellington strike and it's with Walker-Leawere. He's too big, too powerful, and smashes over the line.

56min: WAI 29-7 WEL

Wellington are immediately back on attack here after Manihera is penalised for obstruction at the ruck. Wellington kick for touch and get a lineout 10m short of the Waikato line.

55min: WAI 29-7 WEL

WAI THREE! Wellington are again penalised at the breakdown and Smith steps up from 37m out in front. He kicks it, it hits the post and goes over!

53min: WAI 26-7 WEL

The two sides engage in a kicking battle after the restart but Waikato win it easily as Wellington thump one onto touch. Lineout is 35m from Wellington's line.

51min: WAI 26-7 WEL

WEL TRY! Wellington strike back almost immediately. Simple play down the backline gives them numbers on the right winge and Renata is in to score. Wellington needed that but still a long way to go.

48min: WAI 26-0 WEL

WAI TRY! Wellington's night goes from bad to worse. They simply leave the ball behind at the back of the maul from their lineout and Waikato recover it. There's an offload to Takarangi and he sprints away to score untouched.

45min: WAI 19-0 WEL

Waikato make another great break on the left wing but Proctor swings into the ruck from nowhere and forces a turnover 10m from his own line. Waikato try to clean him out and get penalised for doing so. Wellington out of the woods again and will have a lineout just inside their half for it.

43min: WAI 19-0 WEL

WEL / WAI YELLOW! A pair of yellows makes this a 13 v 14 game as Manihera and Fahamokioa are sent to the bin for throwing punches in a miny scuffle. Weird series of events there but it looks like a stray knee to the head, that wasn't deliberate, started it. Waikato kicks for touch with the penalty from it and get's a lineout 10m inside Wellington's half.

42min: WAI 19-0 WEL

Waikato immediately use their early ball to claim territory again. A great kick bounces into touch shortly after kickoff and pins Wellington in their 22m.

40min: WAI 19-0 WEL

Back underway with a kick from Waikato.

HT: WAI 19-0 WEL

First half was all one way traffic and you have to think Waikato are making the most of all the changes Wellington have made for this match. They're holding on to the ball and backing themselves. The defence is solid and Wellington look lost when they do try to attack. Wellington need some impact from the bench in the second half or they will suffer a shock loss here. Don't go anywhere. We'll be back with the second half soon.

40min: WAI 19-0 WEL

Wellington get one last chance after their scrum earns a penalty but the kick doesn't find touch! Waikato retain the ball and kick for touch as the siren goes but they can't find touch either! Wellington get the ball back and set up on halfway. They go wide but once again, the last pass is a shocker and goes into touch. First half in the books.

38min: WAI 19-0 WEL

Waikato make a rare error and it's a forward pass that stops them from busting down the right wing. Wellington scrum on halfway.

36min: WAI 19-0 WEL

WEL YELLOW! Things go from bad to worse for Wellington as Tuitama is sent to the bin. Waikato had space on their left wing and look to work that final pass but Tuitama comes in with a deliberate knock down so he gets sent packing. Waikato use the penalty and get to halfway for a lineout.

35min: WAI 19-0 WEL

Wellington work the ball for 15 phases but can't get much further than Waikato's 22m. They opt to go to the left wing but the pass is wild and into touch.

31min: WAI 19-0 WEL

Wellington get their first chance after forcing a knock on after kickoff. They get a scrum and attack down the blindside. They're close but the ball comes lose and it's a knock on. Waikato survive with a scrum on their 5m.

29min: WAI 19-0 WEL

WAI TRY! Waikato are in again! Wellington turn the ball over on halfway and Waikato use 12 phases to get into the 22m. A space opens up for Jacobsen and he runs through, links up with McWhannell on the offload and the lock is 10m short. Wellington are penalised for playing the ball on the ground and Waikato go the quick tap. It's inches short, Manihara looks left and dives right to score. One way traffic.

25min: WAI 12-0 WEL

WAI NO TRY!  Waikato turn the ball over shortly after the scrum and burst into Wellington's 22m yet again. The defence is out of sorts and Reece has another run at the posts and he's short. But the ball is close to the posts so they'll check if he grounded it at the base. TMO shows it's double movement so Wellington get off the hook with a penalty.

23min: WAI 12-0 WEL

Waikato are on the attack yet again as Wellington give up another penalty shortly after kickoff. But it goes to waste as the ball comes loose in the ensuing lineout. Wellington scrum 5m from halfway in their own half.

21min: WAI 12-0 WEL

WAI TRY! Reece has a double! Basic skip pass from Smith off the scrum and Reece has plenty of space after Wellington's backs rushed the line off the scrum. Dives in the left corner to give Waikato a nice lead.

18min: WAI 7-0 WEL

WAI NO TRY!  Waikato immediately back on the attack after kickoff with a penalty. They're 10m out again with a lineout and go for a maul. It falters, and becomes a series of pick and gos. It comes out to Smith and he guns for the chalk and it's inches from the line. Ref can't see a grounding and goes to the TMO. Nothing clear there so it's a 5m scrum to Waikato as it's ruled as being held up.

16min: WAI 7-0 WEL

WAI TRY! Reece makes up for his two errors with a clever set piece from the lineout. Waikato come down from the lineout, fake a maul, pop it out the back to O'Donnell he gives a short ball to Reece sweeping around the maul from the wing. He takes it at speed and slices through a hole by the Wellington forwards joining the maul to score.

14min: WAI 0-0 WEL

Waikato earn a penalty after Wellington have hands in the ruck and back themselves to get the job done. Turn down the three from 40m out and kick for touch. Big chance coming up. Lineout 10m from Wellington's line.

11min: WAI 0-0 WEL

Waikato recover their 22m dropout and make a break down the left wing. The last pass goes to Reece in space but he's dropped it cold again! Not a great start for him. He was away if he took that. Wellington scrum 30m from their line.

9min: WAI 0-0 WEL

Turia casually steps up for the kick but it's almost too casual as his kick is short! He was only 40m out there too so with little wind around, it seems he just didn't strike it well. First points go begging.

8min: WAI 0-0 WEL

Wellington get a pair of penalties at the breakdown and after gaining territory with the first one, use the second for a shot at goal. 

5min: WAI 0-0 WEL

Wellington aren't going anywhere after the lineout so they go with a high kick. Reece is underneath it but he drops it cold. Wellington scrum 35m from Waikato line.

4min: WAI 0-0 WEL

Wellington get the ball back early after Waikato clear and are happy to hold the ball. 12 phases gets them into Waikato's half but it comes loose in the ruck and Waikato recover. Wellington force a turnover shortly and Tuitama makes a break down the right wing. Waikato turn the ball back and clear for touch. Long first passage of play there. Neither side wanting to give up the ball.

KICKOFF

Wellington gets things going and we're underway in Hamilton.

WEATHER

A bit nippy. Nine degrees dropping to seven throughout the match with a very light south easterly blowing across the pitch.

PREVIEW

Waikato's Tevita Taufui (L) is tackled by Wellington's Galu Taufale during the Mitre 10 Cup rugby match between Wellington and Waikato at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday the 15th of October 2016. Copyright Photo by Marty Melville / www.Photosport.nz

Despite the early-season form both sides have heading into tonight's contest, it could be an interesting affair thanks to the heavy changes made by the visitors.

Wellington have started their season well, sitting third in the Premiership thanks largely to comfortable wins over Otago (34-16) and Southland (52-7).

But coach Chris Gibbes has opted to make eight changes for the midweek fixture with a clash against North Harbour on Sunday to also prepare for.

As a result, the backline looks entirely different with Carlos Price and Pakai Turia slotting into the nine and 10 jerseys, Peter Umaga-Jensen replacing his brother in the midfield, Losi Filipo coming onto the wing and Trent Renata replacing Wes Goosen at fullback.

The heavy changes could give Waikato a chance to steal their first win of the season as they sit near the bottom of the Championship table after tough losses to Manawatu, North Harbour and Auckland.

History isn't on their side though, with Wellington winning 38 of the 71 contests the two sides have played since 1923.

Waikato has won 32, with one draw among.

The last time the two sides faced off, Wellington comfortably won 34-10.

TEAMS

WAI:  1: Toby Smith 2: Samisonu Taukei’aho 3: Joshua Iosefa-Scott 4: Tim Bond 5: Laghlan McWhannell 6: James Tucker 7: Mitch Jacobsen 8: Jordan Manihera 9: Kylem O’Donnell 10: Fletcher Smith 11: Sevu Reece 12: Dwayne Sweeney 13: Quinn Tupaea 14: Tyler Campbell 15: Mathew Landsdown

Reserves: Sekope Lopeti-Moli, Ayden Johnstone, Sosaia Fale, Sam Caird, Adam Burn, Raniera Takarangi, Pepesana Patafilo, Mosese Dawai

WEL:  1 Tolu Fahamokioa 2 Asafo Aumua 3 Joel Hintz 4 Will Mangos 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere 6 Teariki Ben-Nicholas 7 Greg Foe 8 Thomas Waldrom 9 Carlos Price 10 Pakai Turia 11 Losi Filipo 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen 13 Matt Proctor 14 Malo Tuitama 15 Trent Renata

Reserves: James O'Reilly, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tietie Tuimauga, 19 Galu Taufale, 20 Mateaki Kafatolu, 21 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Billy Proctor

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