Wellington managed to hold on to the Mike Gibson trophy with a narrow 32-28 victory over Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium. PJ Sheck’s late try proved to be the difference in a closely contested match.
Otago put up a strong fight and showed improvement in creating scoring opportunities, even though they left some points on the field. Finn Hurley, Lucas Casey, and Nathan Hastie were standout performers for Otago.
The game was a thrilling spectacle for the small crowd in attendance, with both teams showcasing exciting attacking rugby. Wellington took an early lead through Callum Harkin’s kicking but had to work hard to contain Otago’s attacking threats.
Otago’s resilience was evident as they fought back with tries from Casey, Bell, Umaga-Jensen, and Creighton. However, Wellington’s clinical finishing, especially Sheck’s decisive try, ultimately secured the win for the visitors.
The final scoreline read Wellington 32, Otago 28, with both teams contributing to an entertaining and closely fought contest.
