Replacement first-five Callum Harkin has emerged as the unlikely hero, as Wellington needed extra time to capture their sixth National Provincial Championship crown in a 23-20 thriller over Bay of Plenty.
Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea scored two first-half tries for the Lions and, in his 100th game for the province, first-five Jackson Garden-Bachop — also its leading alltime scorer — missed a couple of opportunities to end the contest in regulation time, before he was eventually replaced by Harkin in added time.
When the home team won a scrum penalty about 40 metres out, Harkin was called on to take what proved to be the winning kick and he made no mistake.
Bay of Plenty's indecision from the opening kickoff saw Wellington immediately on the front foot, with Savea eventually powering over in the left corner, after a barging run from loose forward Brad Shields. In difficult windy conditions, new centurion Jackson Garden-Bachop converted from the sideline.
The Steamers finally got their hands on the ball and began to mount some pressure in slippery conditions. Winger Leroy Carter seemed to have responded with a try, but Wellington halfback Kyle Prestion dislodged the ball from his grasp as he tried to force it.
When Preston botched a clearance kick near his own line, Bay prop Aidan Ross initially had a try disallowed for knockon, but reviews showed he had successfully forced the ball to put his team on the scoreboard.
Garden-Bachop slotted a penalty to give the home team an edge, before putting Savea in the clear for his second try, bullying a couple of defenders near the line.
Wellington had a chance to underline their first-half dominance, when they strung together phases near the tryline after the halftime siren, but could not capitalise and led only 15-7 at the break, after enjoying the best of the conditions.
Now with the wind at their backs, the Bay chipped into their deficit, when first-five Kaleb Trask kicked a penalty soon after the restart. Another penalty brought them within two points, as former All Blacks hooker Hika Elliott , 38, took the field for Wellington.
No.8 Nikora Broughton came within centimetres of snatching the lead, chasing a kick ahead from Carter, but unable to force the ball with his diving effort.
The visitors continued to dominate possession and territory, stringing together 24 phases, before centre Emoni Narawa finally dove over by the posts.
The Lions had a chance to strike back, when second-five Riley Higgins kicked ahead and trapped replacement fullback Luca Cashmore behind his goal-line to force a five-metre scrum.
From a subsequent penalty and attacking scrum, winger Losi Filipo entered the backline to score in the opposite corner. Garden-Bachop’s missed conversion left the scores locked at 20-20 with seven minutes remaining.
Trask’s kickoff was forced in the goal area, so Wellington had a scrum on halfway to launch an attack. A penalty from the set-piece gave Garden-Bachop a 50-metre shot for glory, but he slipped as he kicked and the ball fell short.
They were still on attack and fullback TJ Clarke flew at the corner flag, but was intercepted in midair by Narawa to thwart the gamewinner. Crucially, Bay of Plenty lost Narawa to a head check afterwards.
Garden-Bachop was wayward with a snap drop goal in the final seconds and the home side could not convert one last opportunity from a lineout after the fulltime siren.
The final went into extra time — two 10-minute halves — duplicating their regular season meeting, which went into ‘Golden Point’, before Wellington scored a winning try.
The Lions made a big call in the first added period, pulling Garden-Bachop from the field for Callum Harkin, but no-one could break the deadlock through 10 minutes.
Bay halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi hobbled off and with no specialist replacement, sevens specialist Carter moved into his spot. Eliott left and Leni Apisai returned as hooker for Wellington, as the body count mounted.
The Lions won a scrum penalty inside the Bay half and Harkin lined up a kick that split the uprights for the lead with seven minutes left. From the kickoff, Harkins’s clearance kick was charged down, as the Steamers looked for a response.
They received a penalty in midfield, but levelling the scores would not help them — the next countback factor was tries scored and Wellington held a 3-2 advantage there. Trask kicked to the corner and the Bay forwards laid sieges on the tryline.
Their initial raid ended with Reon Paul tackled into touch near the corner flag. Wellington won the defensive lineout and then stole another off Bay’s throw, before kicking deep with time winding down.
When they knocked the ball free in a tackle, forcing a knockon, the Lions sensed the trophy was theirs. They milked a scrum penalty and called for another scrum, with the clock still running.
Halfback Nui Muriwai cleared the scrum and, fittingly, Harkin kicked to touch, as the celebrations began.
"I wasn't sure if we had it in the bag until the 100th minute, but just so proud of this group," said captain Du'Plessis Kirifi. "They worked bloody hard.
"That's what we traing for, moments like that. It's no surprise we went to 100 minutes and I'm glad I had just enough in the tank to get there."
Almost half a century later, Bay of Plenty continue to chase their second-ever NPC triumph, after winning the inaurugal competition in 1976.
Wellington 23 (Savea 2 & Filio tries; Garden-Bachop conversion & penalty, Harkin penalty) Bay of Plenty 20 (Ross & Narawa try; Trask 2 conversions & 2 penalties)
SHARE ME