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Julian Savea leaves a path of destruction, scores special extra-time try as Wellington outlast BOP to win championship final

October 27, 2017

Wellington have beaten Bay of Plenty 59-45 in a dramatic NPC Championship final that had to be decided in extra time at Westpac Stadium tonight.

FULLTIME - WELLINGTON 59 BOP 45

100 mins - WELLINGTON 59 BOP 45

TRY!  Mitchell Karpik scores down the left edge and Chase Tiatia misses his attempt at goal.

97 mins - WELLINGTON 59 BOP 40

NO TRY! Bay of Plenty have been denied a try with official ruling that they had lost the ball over the try-line.

93 mins - WELLINGTON 59 BOP 40

TRY! Julian 'The Bus' Savea runs over the top of two BOP defenders to score under the posts - Jackson Garden-Bachop nails the conversion from in front.

90 mins - WELLINGTON 52 BOP 40

Wellington's Jackson Garden-Bachop kicks off to BOP in the second period of extra-time.

87 mins - WELLINGTON 52 BOP 40

TRY! Everything is starting to stick for the home side with offloads finding their mark and having BOP on the back foot. Jackson Garden-Bachop puts in a brilliant cross field kick pass for reserve hooker Sitiveni Paongo to score.

Garden-Bachop misses his shot at goal.

85 mins - WELLINGTON 47 BOP 40

TRY!  Jackson Garden-Bachop finds his man with a big skip ball to his centre Wes Goosen, he goes himself to the try-line dummying before grounding the ball.

Garden-Bachop lands the conversion and Wellington have a seven-point lead.

82 mins - WELLINGTON 40 BOP 40

NO TRY!  Jackson Garden-Bachop final pass to Regan Verney is ruled to have gone forward. Wellington rumbled their way from inside their own 22 all the way into BOP's half with ease. Wellington unlucky not to score.

81 mins - WELLINGTON 40 BOP 40

Lions captain Brad Shields scores a try in the NPC Championship final at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday the 27th of October 2017. Copyright Photo by Marty Melville / www.Photosport.nz

BOP's first-five Mike Delany gets things underway with a kick off to Wellington in the first period of extra time.

80 mins - WELLINGTON 40 BOP 40

MISS! Jackson Garden-Bachop misses a 43m penalty kick to give the Wellington the lead - his attempt drifts wide. And we are going into extra time. 

78 mins - WELLINGTON 40 BOP 40

TRY! Chase Tiatia throws an awesome offload for Terrence Hepetema to score an important try for BOP.

Mike Delany lands a crucial shot at goal to level the scores.

73 mins - WELLINGTON 40 BOP 33

TRY! Brilliant work from the Wellington forwards and prop Alex Fidow powers over to score, showed great body position to crash over and give his side the lead.

Jackson Garden-Bachop lands an important conversion to give his side a seven-point lead.

70 mins - WELLINGTON 33 BOP 33

Down to the final 10 minutes of the match and both side's are guilty of just trying to do too much with ball. Mistakes costing both teams crucial try scoring opportunities.

61 mins - WELLINGTON 33 BOP 33

TRY! Jesse Parete crashes over to score and the scores are all level. Mike Delany's conversion attempt goes wide and the scores remain 33-all.

58 mins - WELLINGTON 33 BOP 28

TRY! Loose head prop   Mateaki Kafatolu sneaks over to score his second try of the match after a solid set piece line-out drive from the Lions team. They hit the front again and Jackson Garden-Bachop hits the posts with his attempt at goal.

52 mins - WELLINGTON 28 BOP 28

TRY! BOP's winger Joe Webber showcases some superb footwork and speed scoring his second try of the match -  he beats several Wellington defenders to score down the right edge for the Steamers. Mike Delany gets the conversion from out wide and levels the scores at 28-28.

49 mins - WELLINGTON 28 BOP 21

TRY!  Tyler Ardron gets BOP back into the match making a perfect read and intercepting a poor pass from Wellington's Jackson Garden-Bachop. Ardon runs away to score untouched under the goal posts.

Mike Delany adds the extras.

46 mins - WELLINGTON 28 BOP 14

THREE!  Jackson Garden-Bachop extends his side's lead after a successful penalty kick at goal.

40 mins - WELLINGTON 25 BOP 14

TRY! Brad Shields charges down a kick from Mike Delany and scores one of the quickest tries in the NPC - it took the Wellington captain only 14 seconds to score after the kick off from Garden-Bachop.

Wellington's Julian Savea is tackled by Northland's Jack Goodie and Northland's Dan Pryor during the Mire 10 Cup semi-final rugby match between the Wellington Lions and Northland at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday the 20 October 2017. Copyright Photo by Marty Melville / www.Photosport.nz

Jackson Garden-Bachop misses the conversion.

40 mins - WELLINGTON 20 BOP 14

And we are back underway with Wellington's Jackson Garden-Bachop kicking off to Bay of Plenty.

HALFTIME - WELLINGTON 20 BOP 14

36 mins - WELLINGTON 20 BOP 14

TRY!  Mateaki Kafatolu makes a charging run down field to get Wellington on the front foot and Jackson Garden-Bachop delivers the last pass for Tolu Fahamokioa to crash over and score down the right side. Wellington are on fire on attack!

Jackson Garden-Bachop misses his attempt at goal from the side-line.

32 mins - WELLINGTON 15 BOP 14

TRY!  Sam Lousi sees no one in front of him and picks the ball up with one hand from the middle of the ruck. Chase Tiatia is out of position and Lousi gallops his way to the try-line.

Jackson Garden-Bachop nails the conversion and Wellington hit the front for the first time in the match.

29 mins - WELLINGTON 8 BOP 14

BOP's first-five Mike Delany puts in an awesome kick deep inside Wellington's 22. Delany showing his experience as Wellington forwards slowly make their way back to form the line-out.

26 mins - WELLINGTON 8 BOP 14

THREE!  Jackson Garden-Bachop converts the penalty kick - BOP were penalised for an infringement at ruck time.

22 mins - WELLINGTON 5 BOP 14

TRY! A great solo try from NZ Sevens star Joe Webber who makes a sensational catch and run down the side-line. He steps the first Wellington defender before bumping off Sheridan Rangihuna and uses his speed to get away from Jackson Garden-Bachop. 

Mike Delany nails another get from out wide.

18 mins - WELLINGTON 5 BOP 7

NO TRY!  Thomas Umaga-Jensen is denied his second try of the match with the TMO ruling he was offside. 

18 mins - WELLINGTON 5 BOP 7

PENALTY! The Wellington side turn down an easy three points at goal with Brad Shields opting for a scrum from five metres out.

15 mins - WELLINGTON 5 BOP 7

TRY!  Thomas Umaga-Jensen scores Wellington's first try after a lovely chip and chase by Wes Goosen who re-gathers his own kick. He finds Umaga-Jensen looming on his outside and he sprints off down the left edge to score.

Jackson Garden-Bachop misses his first attempt at goal from out wide.

12 mins - WELLINGTON 0 BOP 7

NO TRY! A beautiful set play from BOP off a scrum and Mike Delany delivers a superb inside ball for Joe Webber who breaks open Wellington's defence. He links up with his second-five Terrence Hepetema. But Wellington's skipper Brad Shields comes up with an excellent steal to get his side out of trouble. Wellington secure the ball and kick it deep down field.

9 mins - WELLINGTON 0 BOP 7

PENALTY! BOP's lock Tom Franklin earns his side a penalty with Wellington flanker Brad Shields ruled to have not released the ball after being tackled. Mike Delany boots the ball deep down field into Wellington's 22.

8 mins - WELLINGTON 0 BOP 7

Bay of Plenty are on the front foot at the moment on attack with Wellington struggling to get out of their own half. BOP winger Joe Webber fumbles the ball and gives Wellington a shot to fire an attacking play off a scrum around halfway.

4 mins - WELLINGTON 0 BOP 7

TRY! After a long passage of play and multiple carries from the Steamers forwards, their halfback Luke Campbell catches the Wellington team napping and makes a clever little dart out of the back of the ruck. Mike Delany lands the conversion.

2 mins - WELLINGTON 0 BOP 0

BOP of looking hot on attack early strolling into Wellington's 22 after a strong set play by their backs off an attacking scrum. Wellington are doing well on defence to hold out the visitors.

KICK OFF!

WELLINGTON 0 BOP 0 

Bay of Plenty's Mike Delany gets the match underway kicking off to Wellington.

PRE-MATCH:

Wellington are the hot favourites to win tonight's NPC final having finished on top of the Championship table and only losing one match all season.

Bay of Plenty have had a mixed season, winning six matches, drawing one and losing four.

The home team will be without young star hooker Asafo Aumua who was selected for the All Blacks' northern hemisphere tour. He is replaced by Leni Apisai.

Mike Delany has been instrumental for the Steamers, playing a starring role in their 48-32 semi-final win over Otago in Tauranga last weekend.

Chase Tiatia and Lalakai Foketi have had a strong consistent season for Bay of Plenty.

Jackson Garden-Bachop has been excellent form for Wellington, leading his side with a strong kicking and running game.

Wellington beat Northland 49-21 last Friday to cement their spot in tonight's final.

The winner of tonight's game will be elevated into next year's NPC Premiership division. 

TEAMS:

Wellington: Trent Renata, Julian Savea, Wes Goosen, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Ben Lam, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Sheridan Rangihuna, Brad Shields (c), Mateaki Kafatolu, James Blackwell, Will Mangos, Sam Lousi, Alex Fidow, Leni Apisai, Tolu Fahamokioa.

Reserves: Sitiveni Paongo, Vince Sakaria, Joe Apikotoa, Galu Taufale, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Regan Verney, Malo Tuitama

Bay of Plenty: Chase Tiatia, Monty Ioane, Lalakai Foketi, Terrence Hepetema, Joe Webber, Mike Delany (vice-captain), Luke Campbell, Tyler Ardron, Hugh Blake, Mitchell Karpik, Keepa Mewett (captain), Tom Franklin, Jeff Thwaites, Liam Polwart, Aidan Ross.

Reserves: James O'Reilly, Jordan Lay, James Lay, Troy Callander, Jesse Parete, Te Aihe Toma, Matthew Garland, Elijah Nicholas.

22 mins - WELLINGTON 5 BOP 14

36 mins - WELLINGTON 20 BOP 14

40mins - WELLINGTON 25 BOP 14

82 mins - WELLINGTON 40 BOP 40

93 mins - WELLINGTON 59 BOP 40

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