Aumua scores two as Lions beat Taranaki

Two tries to hooker Asafo Aumua have spurred Wellington to a 42-26 win over Taranaki on Old Timers' Day at Westpac Stadium.

With a large group of Wellington's former players in attendance, the Lions ran in five tries to reclaim the John F Henning Trophy.

Wearing their club socks to celebrate Club Day, the Lions players came out firing and raced out to a 24-0 before Taranaki could respond.

It was the sort of rugby missing last season when Wellington suffered a record defeat to Taranaki on the same ground.

Under new coach Chris Gibbes, the 2017 Lions have now won their opening two matches in the Mitre 10 Cup and will head to Rotorua next Thursday to play Bay of Plenty with some confidence.

Against Taranaki there were some excellent performances in the Lions ranks, but none more so than Aumua, the Avalon hooker who ran like a back to win three points in the new Duane Monkley Medal race introduced this season.

Aumua got the first try of the match when he sidestepped and swerved past three Taranaki tacklers to score under the posts after eight minutes.

But it was second try, 15 minutes from time, that had the key boards tapping with social media comparisons to another Wellington hooker, Dane Coles.

Aumua's effort was more wing, than tight forward as he raced onto a chip kick from centre Wes Goosen then fended off Taranaki wing Declan O'Donnell before out pacing the cover.

But Wellington's effort was by no means a one-man show and was mostly notable for the teamwork and effort displayed across the park.

Big wing Ben Lam got Wellington's second try when fullback Trent Renata and centre Wes Goosen combined to create space from deep and a 17-0 lead in as many minutes.

Julian Savea was next to score when he regathered his own chip and chase over opposite Seta Tamanivalu to scoot in under the posts.

First Five Jackson Garden-Bachop converted all three tries and added a penalty as the Lions made the most of the perfect conditions in their first home match of the season.

Taranaki responded after half an hour with tries to midfielders Charlie Ngatai and Sean Wainui, but Garden-Bachop had the last say before the break with a long range penalty for a 27-14 lead.

Taranaki threatened a comeback after the break when halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi  burst free to create a try to loose forward Lachlan Boshier and close to 30-19.

Fittingly it was second five Regan Verney who broke the resistance after a patient build up from the Lions. Verney was outstanding in just his second Mitre 10 Cup match.

Aumua's second try pushed the score out to 42-19 and despite a late effort by replacement Taranaki wing Waisake Naholo, the result was assured.

Scorers:

Wellington 42 (Asafo Aumua 2, Ben Lam, Julian Savea, Regan Verney tries; Jackson Garden 3 con, 3 pen, Dan Kirkpatrick con) Taranaki 26 (Charlie Ngatai, Sean Wainui, Lachlan Boshier, Waisake Naholo tries; Stephen Perofeta 3 con). HT: 27-14.