The Lions may have been the whipping boys of the 2014 ITM Cup, but one suspects their stay in the Championship will be short after knocking over the defending Premiership champions 19-14 in New Plymouth today.
They were not always fluent or accurate, but there was plenty of grit and three well-worked tries. The third, to wing Joe Hill, saw him bolt 50m after a show-and-go, exposing some porous Taranaki defence.
They had to withstand a far more energised second spell from the home side, who drew to within a point after a fine try to wing Codey Rei and the boot of Marty McKenzie.
The Lions dominated the opening stanza, with a stable scrum, good continuity and plenty of intensity, but their only tangible rewards were tries to the ubiquitous Brad Shields and his fellow loose forward Vaea Fifita.
Those tries came when Taranaki wing Kurt Baker was in the sinbin for a brainless late and no-arms tackle on Wellington first-five Jonny Bentley. Shields also spent time in the bin for a no-arms tackle, but his indiscretion cost just three points.
All Blacks hopeful Cory Jane had few chances, strangely, as much of the play seemed to go to the other wing. He lasted 80 minutes and ended up at fullback, but the selectors will need to see much more in the next two outings to be swayed. Taranaki lock James Broadhurst played just the first half after two heavy knocks.
Wellington continue to be a bogey team for Taranaki, with the Lions losing just four times since 1976 in competition.
Taranaki travel to Auckland next Sunday. Wellington meet North Harbour in Albany on Thursday.
Taranaki 14 (C. Rei try; M. McKenzie 3 pens)
Wellington 19 (B. Shields, V. Fifita, J. Hill tries; J. Bentley 2 cons) Halftime: 0-12.
