93rd-minute penalty decides all-time classic NPC Final as Wellington win

Wellington Lions have taken out the 2024 National Provincial Championship (NPC) title after an epic 23-20 win over Bay of Plenty in extra-time. In tough conditions, it all came down to a 93rd-minute penalty goal which separated two teams worthy of so much praise.

It’s the second time this season that the Lions have edged the Bay in extra-time, following another tense battle during the round-robin. Former All Black Julian Savea was among the standouts on Saturday, but it was well and truly a team effort.

With the pressure and expectation that seems to come with the province’s 48-year NPC drought, the Bay seemed to feel the heat as the match got underway. There was a mistake off the kick-off which immediately parked the visitors deep inside their own 22.

Former All Blacks Sevens ace Leroy Carter and first five-eighth Kaleb Trask both played key roles in the Bay relieving themselves of any danger early on. But that passage of play, although brief, set the tone for what was to come in the coming minutes.

It was all the Lions for the opening five minutes or so as they dominated possession and reaped the fruits of their labour on the back of those efforts. Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea scored just inside the left sideline, and Jackson Garden-Bachop converted the try.

It was the perfect start for the Wellingtonians.

But, as the apparent nerves seemed to wear off, the Steamers slowly got themselves back into the contest. Carter came close to scoring in the 15^th minute, but a superb defensive effort from Kyle Preston kept the visitors scoreless for at least a little bit longer.

Aidan Ross doesn’t score much, but the prop scored one of the most important tries of his career a few minutes after Carter’s initial effort. The Bay had put plenty of pressure on Wellington’s try line – it almost seemed inevitable that they’d score next.

With the scores locked at 7-all midway through the opening term, that match already had the makings of a highly entertaining NPC Final. Both teams were giving it everything in attack, but the defensive walls stood tall in response for the most part.

Garden-Bachop added another three points to the score with a penalty goal later on in the half, and the Lions still had more tricks up their sleeves with the backline combining for a stunning five-pointe just before the break.

Tjay Clarke threw a brilliant pass to Garden-Bachop, who in turn gave the ball to ‘The Bus.’ Savea ran over one-Test All Black Emoni Narawa before dotting the ball down in the 32^nd minute, with the hosts ultimately taking a 15-7 lead into the interval.

It was tense.

While the half-time mascot race helped everyone forget about the enthralling and nerve-wracking decider that was halfway done at Sky Stadium, the focus soon shifted back to the match itself as the teams made their way back out onto the park.

The Bay were sensational.

Trask scored two penalty goals to reduce the deficit to just two points. Narawa was the next man to score, with the backline utility crossing for a go-ahead try, with the successful conversion extending the Bay’s lead to 20-15 on the back of 13 unanswered second-half points.

With less than 12 minutes to play, it’s safe to say time wasn’t on Wellington’s side. The only trailed by five points by the Bay’s defence was solid. Captain Du’Plessis Kirifi had gotten the team into a huddle before a scrum and that proved to be a game-changer.

Wellington looked confident and composed; knowing what they had to do. Peter Umaga-Jensen sent winger Losilosivale Filipo through ag ap for a levelling try, and to add to the drama, Garden-Bachop couldn’t add the two points.

20-all with six to play.

Title on the line.

Garden-Bachop had a chance to give the Lions the lead, but the first five-eighth slipped and the attempt missed the mark. The scores remained level, but the hosts got the ball back almost immediately, and they made their way up the park.

But, the playmaker missed a drop goal attempt and also knocked the ball on with time up on the clock. That meant Wellington and Bay of Plenty were off to extra time – they went to golden point during the regular season.

Halfway through extra time, the two teams still couldn’t be split. There were two 10-minute periods of extra time, and it wasn’t until replacement Callum Harkin scored in the 93^rd minute that Wellington regained the lead.

That proved to be the difference.

For the sixth time in the province’s history, Wellington are champions of the NPC.