Canterbury have earned a spot back in the National Provincial Rugby semi-finals after a 40-28 win over Bay of Plenty on Saturday afternoon.
The red and blacks were shock omissions from the 2020 playoffs and ahead of last weekend's comeback win over Tasman, looked set to miss out again, but tightened the screw on a knackered Steamers outfit backing up for the third time in eight days.
Dallas McLoed and the electric Waisake Naholo scored a brace of tries each on a glistening sunny day at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
The win lifts Canterbury to third on the ladder, equal on points with Tasman, but last week's victory proved the tiebreaker and a clash against Waikato in seven days.
The lead changed four times in the first half with the home side leading 24-21 at the break, but the impressive Lucas Cashmore lit up the second half with a 48th minute try that had the Steamers in the lead.
But Naholo's second try minutes later shifted the tide in the red and blacks favour and a 72nd minute penalty from fullback Chay Fihaki sealed the points for his side.
In next weekend's second semi-final, Tasman travel to Napier to take on the table-topping Hawke's Bay Magpies.
