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Bay of Plenty secure historic spot in NPC Final after beating Canterbury
By Finn Morton
Bay of Plenty are through to the NPC Final after a second-half point-scoring clinic saw them get the better of Canterbury 32-20 at the Tauranga Domain. The Steamers scored 24 unanswered points during the second term, but the visitors would have the final say.
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The Bay won the first-ever NPC title 48 years ago, but there was no Final back then. This is, instead, the first time ever that the Steamers have booked their place in the decider for the top-flight’s provincial title.
Less than 80 seconds into the contest, Steamers lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi was penalised which gave fullback Isaac Hutchinson the chance to kick for the posts. Hutchinson made no mistake with the early attempt, which gave the Cantabrians an early three-nil lead.
But their slender advantage didn’t last long. Kaleb Trask had two shots at goal inside the next 10-minute period, and while the first five-eighth missed the initial attempt, he didn’t miss with a much simpler attempt shortly after.
The home crowd favourites would score next but it wouldn’t come off Trask’s boot, with the playmaker and Hutchinson both missing another shot at goal each. Instead, it was openside flanker Joe ‘The Mechanic’ Johnston who reaped the rewards from the set-piece.
With the Bay opting to kick for the corner, the Steamers readied themselves for a maul, and that ended up working wonders – just as it had done in the dying stages of last weekend’s quarter-final Battle of the Bays at the very same venue.
Johnston crashed over along with captain Kurt Eklund as the Bay took the lead for the first time, 8-3, after 25 minutes. But, that was all the points they could muster in the opening term as Canterbury instead showed their class with the half-time hooter nearing.
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Hooker Brodie McAlister crashed over from a pick-and-drive to level the scores at eight-a-piece, with Hutchinson’s conversion giving the visitors a slender lead. The fullback would later kick another penalty to give the Cantabrians a 13-8 lead at the break.
In the second half, there was a feeling that the Bay had to be the first to score – and they were. Inside centre Uilisi Halaholo scored his first try of the season after running over Hutchinson while also flirting with the right touchline.
Trask converted from the sideline to give the hosts the lead back, 15-13.
Former All Blacks Sevens ace Leroy Carter would extend the Steamers’ lead with an incredible solo effort in the 54th minute. Carter, somehow, started inside the field of play while beating tackle attempts from one-Test All Black Dallas McLeod and halfback Willi Heinz.
That was Carter’s fourth try in as many games.
Trask converted the try from the sideline, too.
The scoreboard read 22-13 in favour of the Bay.
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With the Bay growing in confidence, it was that man once again – Trask – who scored the next points with a relatively simple penalty attempt. In less than 20 minutes, the Bay had gone from a five-point deficit to a 12-point advantage.
Replacement Semisi Paea finished off an incredible break up the field from the Bay to all but book the Steamers’ place in next week’s NPC Final. They’d looked supremely confident up until that point – it seemed inevitable that they’d score again.
Canterbury would have the final say with a try to Jone Rova with two minutes to play. But still, the Bay would end up dominating this semi-final clash with Canterbury; booking their spot in the NPC decider with a clinical 32-20 win.
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Up The Bay! They clearly deserved to win this game and they even left a good number of points on the field too because of some wayward kicking by Trask. Canterbury were still stacked with test and Super Rugby level players and got outclassed especially in the forwards.
BOP will have to be much more accurate on attack though because Wellington's defence is excellent. Go The Bay!
And remember Wellington Lions have vital home advantage and the BEST record in the last three NPC comps ! Winner 2022, beaten finalist 2023 and 2024 favourite at home 2024 if we still get any ALL BLACK helpat all as players are shunted in every direction imaginable this week. May the best team win WELLINGTON LIONS or BOP Steamers! GL both teams! It will be a mighty contest!!!
The greatest moment in New Zealand rugby since BOP beat the wallabies in 1990.
Up the Mighty Bay!
That's a very biased view MOMAAB?