Wellington fall at final hurdle, again

Monday 9 November 2009
Published By: Ben Welch
Air New Zealand Cup > New Zealand

The current Wellington side looks set to be one of sport's great also-rans, after losing their fourth consecutive Air New Zealand Cup final.

Having fallen at the final hurdle in each of the competition's previous three seasons, the Lions were defeated by Canterbury for the second year in a row on Saturday.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry may well wish he had taken the eventual winners' Colin Slade to the northern hemisphere, as he was the difference between the sides.

However, at one point it looked like the full-back had gone from hero to villain, as he scored twice - including an early 60-metre effort - before being sin-binned with 15 minutes to go.

And although Wellington looked like they might get back into the match after his yellow card, scoring ten points while Slade was off the pitch, Canterbury fly-half Stephen Brett condemned the Lions to another year of disappointment with his second successful penalty late on - sealing a 28-20 victory.