A fairly fundamental lesson for any rugby player and one Otago was taught on Saturday nightWellington had a monopoly on possession in the first 20 minutes and chalked up 28 points to seal victory over Otago on Saturday night.
Otago first five-eighth Hayden Parker said Wellington attacked with vigour in that opening period.
"The first 20 minutes they had all the ball and they attacked with speed and width. We had a few missed tackles and our kick-chase was not as good as it could have been," Parker said.
"That let them get in behind us and kept their phases going. We just had to get our hands on the ball and give back to them what they had given us."
Although Otago lock Tom Franklin scored just before the half-hour mark after a concentrated period of attack on the Wellington line, the points gap for Otago was just too big.
When speedy winger Matt Proctor scored the second of his three tries just before halftime, Wellington was up 35-10 and looking comfortable.
Otago came back well in the second half, scoring tries through replacement flanker TJ Ioane and replacement hooker Shota Horie but the horse had already bolted.
Wellington was big and strong and full of class players who more often than not made the right decisions.
Coming off a full week's rest and looking to move the ball around against a somewhat tired Otago side, Wellington got to the advantage line too easily for it to be anything but an away side's victory.
Parker said Otago probably dropped too many balls and forced too many passes against a team which was aggressive in defence.
"They have got a lot more Super 15 players but that is no excuse. We've got to go out there and get stuck in. Give it back to them."
If anything, Otago got stronger as the match went on, but it was just one of those days.
Decisions did not go the home side's way and Wellington's defence was tough and did not back down.
With the victory, Wellington held on to the Mike Gibson Memorial Trophy last held by Otago in 2008.
There was an encouraging 40 minutes from young Otago flanker Hugh Blake while Ioane again showed plenty of muscle.
Replacement hooker Horie got into his work, while lock Tom Franklin never gave up.
Wellington winger Proctor fully deserved his three tries and flanker Ardie Savea showed his talents.
ITM Cup
The scores
Wellington 49
Matt Proctor 3, Ardie Savea, Jeremy Thrush, Frae Wilson, Jason Woodward tries; Woodward 7 con
Otago 22
Tom Franklin, TJ Ioane, Shota Horie tries; Hayden Parker 2 con, pen
Halftime: 35-10
Crowd: 4500
