Strong first half fires Wellington 85kg team to win over Waikato

The Wellington Centurions U85kg team came out on fire in the first half of their match on Saturday against Waikato in perfect conditions at Owen Delany Park, Taupo.

Wellington won the one-off encounter 27-10, after charging to a 20-point halftime lead.
 
Strong running second five-eighth L.A. Moemai  broke through after 7 minutes to put fullback Dan Kubiak away to score out wide before doing the same minutes later with Kubiak putting wing Todd Young clear to score.

Moemai then carried a number of defenders over for the third try to make it 15-0 after as many 15 minutes.

The Centurions almost scored another when the hard running Titans fullback Kubiak made a break and chipped the fullback but just didn't get the bounce of the ball and was knocked on.  
 
Waikato then had some possession and a penalty was kicked into the corner and a lineout drive was stopped on the line, only for the Waikato halfback to scoot around the blindside where there was no defence at all to score an easy converted try to make it 15-7 after 25 minutes.
 
Wellington captain and centre Makea Pokere then made a powerful run from about 30 metres out to score.
 
With a couple of minutes to go before the half Moemai. made another break and was able to get around the fullback to score under the posts and establish a 27-7 lead at halftime.
 
The Centurions made a number of changes at the break but then suffered a run of injuries almost immediately into the second half with Makea (blood bin), blindside and vice-captain Cam Prestidge  and openside flanker Sam Tuala all coming off with injuries in the first ten minutes.

Also during this time Waikato managed to kick a penalty and missed another penalty attempt and the score was 27 to 10.
 
About 20 minutes into the half Moemai was yellow carded for a high tackle and a few minutes later first five-eighth Matt Jackett was also yellow carded for a penalty at a breakdown to reduce Centurions to 13 men.

Waikato then spent a long period attacking the Wellington line looking for a score to get them back in the game but some outstanding defence by everyone on the field with two men short repeatedly held them out with winger Danny Shaw making one try saver in the corner.

Fullback Kubiak then made a break up the midfield and raced 30 metres almost setting up a try but the final pass was just knocked on. 
 
Centurions then lost both its wingers to injuries which didn't help but finally managing to have a crack at Waikato's line in the last 5 minutes though great defence from Waikato held them out and the second half finished 3 nil in Waikato's favour.
 
The match was played in great spirit with both teams playing hard with Wellington's great start setting up the win.
 
Waikato generously made a huge trophy, The Gallon Cup, for the fixture between the two sides and the Wellington Centurion's team were very happy to be the inaugural winner.
 
For the Centurions, lock Bill Drummond and number 8 Artie Flux had big games in the forwards.
Matt Jackett and Makea ran the backline well with Kubiak having a very strong game at the back.

Man of the match for Wellington though was second five-eighth L.A. Moemai whose power and pace in the first half was outstanding.
 
Wellington Centurions 27 (L.A. Moemai 2, Dan Kubiak, Todd Young, Makea Pokere Tries; Matt Jackett Con) beat Waikato 10 (1 Try, 1 Conversion, 1 Penalty). Halftime 27-7.

The Wellington Centurions under 85kg team that met Waikato was:

1. Sam Duncan (MSP)
2. Bernard Dodds(Tawa)
3. Keegan Lane (Wellington)
4. Bill Drummond (Eastbourne)
5. Jack Coles (Petone)
6. Cam Prestidge (Tawa, Vice-captain)
7. Sam Tuala (Tawa)
8. Artie Flux (OBU)
9. Nick Naylor (MSP)
10. Matt Jackett (Avalon)
11. Danny Shaw (Tawa)
12. L.A. Moemai (Avalon)
13. Makea Pokere (Poneke, Captain)
14. Todd Young (Johnsonville)
15. Dan Kubiak (Tawa)
Reserves
16. Jordan Wilson (MSP)
17. Gus Gawn (Poneke)
18. Angus Whiteman (Wellington)
19. Pete Coles (Petone)
20. Damian Austin (Avalon)
21. Mark Austin (Avalon)
22. Matt Thomas (MSP)