A Richie Mo'unga inspired Canterbury have dismantled Tasman 35-13 AMI Stadium, Christchurch.
CAN 35-13 TAS
FULLTIME: Thats it! The ball is hoofed out of play and a huge roar goes around the stadium as Canterbury clinch their third straight title.
CAN 35-13 TAS
79min: Jordan makes a blistering break through Canterbury's defence and just about does enough to set up a try for the departing James Lowe. The winger is tackled before Mitch Hunt puts through an atrocious cross field kick out on the full.
CAN 35-13 TAS
77min: Tasman with one more roll of the dice as they have a scrappy lineout near halfway. They'll have a scrum now after a Canterbury knock on.
CAN 35-13 TAS
74min: TRY! Jack Stratton puts the seal on it after yet another Richie Mo'unga break. The first-five makes an offload to Luke Whitelock before Stratton gets the pick and go running and crashes over the line to basically put this game to bed. Mo'unga gets the conversion.
CAN 28-13 TAS
71min: Nothing coming off for Tasman in this second half as Mitch Hunt fails to hold on to the ball. Canterbury defusing all of the Makos' attempts.
CAN 28-13 TAS
68min: Stratton hoofs the ball straight out on the full after some brilliant defensive work from his Canterbury teammate Josh McKay who ripped the ball from a Tasman player. The Makos back inside the oppositions half but are met with resolute defence.
CAN 28-13 TAS
65min: Mo'unga knocks his kick over and he has now equaled the all-time record for most points in a NPC final with 23.
CAN 25-13 TAS
63min: Thirty phases now as Tasman desperately hold off Canterbury's attacks. They have advantage now before Bridge makes a dash for the line under the posts through a pile of bodies. The Makos do enough to stone wall Canterbury before the referee comes back for the penalty.
CAN 25-13 TAS
60min: Canterbury win the ball back after Hunt's grubber kick comes to no avail. The red and blacks now camp up inside Tasman's half as they pull together over 15 phases, inching their way to Tasman's try line.
CAN 25-13 TAS
57min: Christie feeds Tasman's scrum as the Makos look score their first points of this second half. They have possession just behind Canterbury's 22 as they look for a gap.
CAN 25-13 TAS
54min: Canterbury win a penalty after a cynical late hit from Tasman. Richie Mo'unga once again lines up the kick and makes no mistake to further extend Canterbury's lead as they begin to run away with this final. Mo'unga is three points away from scoring the most points in any NPC final.
CAN 22-13 TAS
51min: Tasman punch up through Cantebury's defence down the left hand side through James Lowe and co. They make it 10 metres out before a wild pass is knocked on by Parkinson. Scrum Canterbury 5 metres out.
CAN 22-13 TAS
48min: Tasman have a lineout near Canterbury's 22 metre line after a penalty. The throw is good and Tasman look to build an attack before they knock it on. Scrum Canterbury.
CAN 22-13 TAS
45min: Both sides trading kicks before George Bridge takes a good catch under a high ball and makes his way down the sideline. Bridge's good work is undone however as Tasman win the ball back and look to make a break from their own half. They win a penalty now after Canterbury fail to roll away. Some respite now for the Makos as they clear their lines.
CAN 22-13 TAS
42min: Ugly head knock now to Tasman's Ryan Coxon whose head colides with Luke Whitelock's hip. He comes off now for Tom Hill. Mo'unga lines up the kick now after an earlier penalty and the first-five makes no mistake with his kick.
CAN 19-13 TAS
40min: Tasman's Mitch Hunt gets play back underway in Christchurch.
CAN 19-13 TAS
HALFTIME: TRY! Tim Bateman crashes over under the posts after running at the ball from a good angle. Nothing the Tasman defence could do to stop him as this see-sawing first half comes to an end. Tasman started stronger but Canterbury have made a roaring comeback to lead 19-13 at the break.
CAN 12-13 TAS
39min: Canterbury win a penalty after Tasman bring down their scrum. Mo'unga kicks the ball into touch as the red and blacks hunt for another try.
CAN 12-13 TAS
36min: James Lowe makes a cheeky chip and chase over Canterbury's defence and there's suggestions he was taken out. Referee waves play on before the ball goes out of play for a lineout.
CAN 12-13 TAS
34min: Scrum to Tasman much to James Lowe's delight as his pinpoint kick is dropped cold by George Bridge.
CAN 12-13 TAS
32min: Mitch Hunt lines up the kick around 40 metres in front of the posts and nails it! Tasman back in front.
CAN 12-10 TAS
30min: Some messy play now as both teams trade knock ons. Once play settles Tasman begin to pull phases together just inside Canterbury's half. Tasman's persistence pays off as they win a penalty. The Makos opt to kick for three points.
CAN 12-10 TAS
27min: Scrum to Canterbury as the game pauses after a frenetic passage of play as both sides trade possession.
CAN 12-10 TAS
25min: TRY! Richie Mo'unga with a double! The first-five pins his ears back after spotting a gap near the halfway line. He skips past multiple Tasman defenders before putting on the after-burners to dive over under the posts. What a try! He converts his own try too.
CAN 5-10 TAS
22min: Tasman straight back into their work after Mo'unga's try. They win a scrum after the kick-off through a knock on. They attack Canterbury's defence before the red and blacks manage to turn the ball over and clear the ball.
CAN 5-10 TAS
20min: TRY! Richie Mo'unga with a bit of razzle dazzle sells the dummy to touch down in the corner. Canterbury's decision not to take the three points earlier pays dividends as the line out drive set up Canterbury's attack. Mo'unga can't convert his try however.
CAN 0-10 TAS
17 min: Game is paused now for a moment as both side's try and get their scrum's sorted out. Canterbury feed and Drummond gets things organised before kicking into Tasman territory.
CAN 0-10 TAS
15min: Mitchell Hunt guides his kick nicely through the posts to build on Tasman's lead.
CAN 0-7 TAS
13min: The Makos' good work is undone after a knock on and Canterbury manage to clear their lines. However Canterbury's relief is short lived as James Lowe spots a gap and brings Tasman back on the 22 metre line. The Makos stretch Canterbury and they've managed to win a penalty to offside.
CAN 0-7 TAS
11min: Tasman come roaring back after the kick off and are 10 metres out from Canterbury's try line.
CAN 0-7 TAS
8min: TRY! Levi Aumua crashes over in the corner! The Makos launch an attack from their own half through James Lowe, they continue to punch through Canterbury's defence before moving the ball wide with some good link up play before Aumua busted past George Bridge to score. Hunt gets the extras! 7-0 to Tasman.
CAN 0-0 TAS
7min: Tasman have a lineout after an offside penalty. The Makos don't make much of though as Canterbury manage to turn it over and kick the ball deep inside Tasman territory.
CAN 0-0 TAS
5min: Canterbury continue to punch through Tasman's defence. The red and blacks make it just outside Tasman's 22 before there's a knock on. Scrum to Tasman.
CAN 0-0 TAS
2mins: Bateman makes the first break of the match after Jordan Taufua spills the ball. Canterbury move the ball wide to the right and their way just past halfway. Tasman get pinged and Canterbury win a penalty. Mo'unga misses the kick though.
KICK OFF: Richie Mo'unga gets us underway here in Christchurch.
PRE MATCH:
Crusaders compatriots sides Tasman and Canterbury square off in a replay of last year's Mitre10 cup final where the red blacks downed the Makos 43-27 in Nelson.
Canterbury will be looking to continue their remarkable recent run of success in domestic rugby, where they could clinch three NPC title wins in a row.
Tasman however will have plenty to play for also, where they'll be looking to Crusaders players Jordan Taufua and Mitchell Hunt for inspiration.
Tonight's final will also be memorable one for winger James Lowe, playing his final match in New Zealand before moving overseas to Europe.
Canterbury: George Bridge, Josh McKay, Tim Bateman, Rob Thompson, Braydon Ennor, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Luke Whitelock (c), Billy Harmon, Tom Sanders, Dominic Bird, Hamish Dalzell, Siate Tokolahi, Ben Funnell, Alex Hodgman.
Reserves: Nathan Vella, Chris Gawler, Oliver Jager, Reed Prinsep, Tom Christie, Jack Stratton, Brett Cameron, Inga Finau.
Tasman: Will Jordan, Tomas Aoake, Levi Aumua, Alex Nankivell, James Lowe, Mitchell Hunt, Finlay Christie, Jordan Taufua, Vernon Fredericks, Ethan Blackadder, Shannon Frizell, Alex Ainley (c), Tyrel Lomax, Andrew Makalio, Siua Halanukonuka.
Reserves: Ti'i Paulo, Tom Hill, Ryan Coxon/Drew Petelo, Pari Pari Parkinson, Pete Samu/Braden Stewart, Billy Guyton/Ben Finau, Tim O'Malley, Trael Joass.
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