Waikato kicked off their 2020 Mitre 10 Cup campaign with an impressive win over Wellington at FMG Stadium Waikato in Round 1 on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors opened the scoring early when Julian Savea broke a few tackles to score in the corner. Jackson Garden-Bachop added the extras from the sideline to give Wellington 7 nil lead.

The Mooloo Mens first points of the season came from the boot of Damian McKenzie after Wellington was penalised for being offside. McKenzie was successful with the penalty shot at goal and then minutes later Wellington were penalised again and McKenzie added another three points and Wellington’s lead was cut to one after 14 minutes.

Waikato’s first try came in the sixteenth minute and was scored by Waikato debutant halfback, Xavier Roe, who darted down the blindside to score. McKenzie added the extras and Waikato hit the lead for the first time in the match.    

Fletcher Smith scored the second try for Waikato after collecting a charge down to race away to score under the posts. Again McKenzie was successful with the conversion and Waikato pushed their lead out to 13 points after eighteen minutes.

Wellington again gave away another penalty in McKenzie’s range and he added another 3 point to Waikato’s score and after twenty three minutes it was 23-7 to the home team.

In the eleven minutes leading up to half time Wellington bounced back with tries from Vaea Fifita and Connor Garden-Bachop saw Waikato’s lead diminish to only 2 points at the break, as the home team 23-21 at half time. 

In the second half, it took just five minutes for McKenzie to add to the teams tally when he slotted a penalty from out in front after Wellington was again penalised in a kickable position.

Another Waikato debutant, Adam Thomson, scored on debut. Halfback, Roe, put through a grubber kick which Thomson ran on too to collect to score, pushing the home teams lead back out to 12 points.

But Wellington struck back only two minutes later when Ardie Savea crashed over for the visitors. Garden-Bachop added the extras and it was just a 5 point ball game. 

Around the three quarter mark, McKenzie added another 3 points from a penalty shot at goal and then with thirteen minutes remaining intercepted a mistake from Wellington and raced away to score a 90m try. McKenzie converted his own try and Waikato had breathing room on the scoreboard. 

The captain, Luke Jacobson, got on the score sheet scoring his first try for Waikato when he crashed over with six minutes remaining. McKenzies conversion brought up 50 points for the home team.

On full time, Wellington gave away another penalty in a kickable position for Waikato and McKenzie stepped and converted the penalty shot at goal to bring his total to 33 points on the day and helping Waikato to a bonus point win over the 2019 Premiership runners up Wellington.

Waikato 53 (Xavier Roe, Fletcher Smith, Adam Thomson, Damian McKenzie, Luke Jacobson tries; Damian McKenzie 5 conversions, 6 penalties)

Wellington 28 (Julian Savea, Vaea Fifita, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ardie Savea tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 4 conversions)

HT: Waikato 23 Wellington 21

Article added: Monday 14 September 2020