Bunning’s NPC Final 2024 - Wellington Lion’s 23-20 Bay of Plenty (After Extra Time) - 26/10/2024.

Photo highlights from yesterday's Bunning's NPC Final between the Wellington Lion's and Bay of Plenty which was played at a wet and wild Sky Stadium.

The men from the capital city kept their dangling nerves under control after the scores were level 20-20 at fulltime in the swirling wind and rain at Sky Stadium, with the fixture forced to be played for an extra 20 minutes - 10 each way - to determine a winner.

The rules stated the full 20 minutes had to be played to determine the overall winner, and not surprisingly, exhausted players were scattered all over the park during the final ten minutes

The result was ultiamtely a bitter blow for Bay of Plenty, who last won the NPC title in 1976. The difference in the end, was a penalty kicked by replacement Wellington playmaker Callum Harkin in the second period of extra-time. Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea served-up two sublime tries for Wellington in the first half. They were ultimately to prove decisive. The first five-pointer inside the first five minutes, the second a determind run after a flicked out pass for Savea to brush aside a couple of Bay of Plenty defenders to score a sublime try.

Bay of Plenty, trailing 15-7 at halftime, swept out on to the field after their halftime debrief brimming with intent and, with the wind at their backs, blew away Wellington with a combination of tactical nous, desire and sheer grit in the third quarter.

The Steamers scored tries through prop Aidan Ross and Emoni Narawa, with Kaleb Trask adding the extras with the boot. A penalty from Trask stretched the lead before a try to from Losi Filipo in the 73rd minute levelled the scores and sent the game into extra time however the Lions rallied and were rewarded for their determination in the second period of extra-time after a try from Callum Harkin.

Result : Wellington Lions 23 - 20 Bay of Plenty (After Extra-time)

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