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Canterbury 18 Wellington 26
Canterbury - Mataele,Punavai tries, Burke 2 penalty goals, conversion, Love penalty goal
Wellington - Love, Aumua tries, Garden-Bachop 3 penalty goals, 2 conversions
Full time
Full time - Wellington wins the restart and boots the ball into touch to the contest and ends their 22-year title drought. What a season for Wellington. They win the NPC title and are also the holders of the Ranfurly Shield.
79th minute - After eight phases of attack, Wellington wins a breakdown penalty and Love will have a shot at goal to seal the result. Love nails it to give Wellington an eight-point lead. (WEL 26-18)
78th minute - Canterbury knocks the ball on from the kickoff and Whitman storms down to 15-metres short of the Canterbury line with two minutes remaining.
77th minute - Canterbury wins the ball back from the 22 and build their attack inside their own half. Christie breaks downfield and offloads to Fihaki.
Fihaki grubbers downfield into Wellington's 22 and the Canterbury fullback is taken out but it doesn't matter with Punavai winning the foot race to score in the corner.
Burke can't convert and Richard Judd is sent to the sin bin for the late tackle. (WEL 23-18)
75th minute - Wellington is building their attack inside Canterbury's 22 as they look for the killer blow. Canterbury's defence is holding on but after 16-phases, the referee plays advantage so, Morgan goes for a drop-goal but misses.
The referee comes back for the penalty and Morgan will have a shot at goal, which he pulls to the left again.
72nd minute - Canterbury steals the lineout but as the ball comes to centre-field to Prinsep he knocks it on. The home side are running out of time. Nine minutes remaining, can they get back into it?
Wellington will have a scrum 20-metres out from Canterbury's line.
70th minute - Huge scrum from Wellington who pushes Canterbury off their own ball to win the penalty. They choose to go for touch and they will have a lineout on Canterbury's 22.
69th minute - From the scrum, Love puts a great kick down field and goes into touch on halfway.
From the lineout, Wellington compete but Bird knocks it on competing in the air and the home side will have a scrum.
67th minute - From the lineout, Bridge storms into the 22. Canterbury is building their attack as the crowd finds their voice. After seven phases, Canterbury knocks the ball on to ease the pressure.
Scrum to Wellington just 15-metres from their own try-line.
66th minute - Canterbury wins a breakdown penalty and they will have a lineout 35 metres out.
Is this the chance for the home side to get back into this final?
64th minute - Canterbury are continuing to struggle to make metres on the attack with Wellington very strong on defence.
The home side gets down to halfway but Lakai wins a breakdown penalty on halfway and Aidan Morgan will have a shot at goal, which he pulls to the left.
60th minute - After three phases of attack, Love knocks on a bullet-pass from Aidan Morgan and Canterbury will have a scrum on the 10-metre line.
59th minute - Wellington is starting to win the territory battle in the second half, which is through their strong defence. Canterbury builds their attack just short of their own 10-metre line and Burke is forced to put a high kick up after their attack goes nowhere.
From the kick, Canterbury knocks the ball on and it will be a scrum to Wellington on the home side's 10-metre line.
58th minute - From the lineout, Wellington set the rolling maul and makes 10-metres before Perenara puts a high kick up which Canterbury deals with. From the breakdown, Burke puts a poor kick into touch just short of the home side's 22.
56th minute - From the lineout, Higgins makes a mini-break just inside Canterbury's half before they come wide to Aumua but Punavai makes a great tackle to force him into touch.
54th minute - Wellington is continuing to muscle up in defence and after nine phases of Canterbury attack which goes nowhere, the home side clears down to halfway.
52nd minute - Canterbury is starting to lift the tempo in their attack but Wellington has rolled their sleeves up and put big shots on in defence. After eight phases, Wellington wins a breakdown penalty through Caleb Delany who has been outstanding tonight.
Garden-Bachop misses touch and Canterbury clears down to halfway.
50th minute - Luke Romano and Reed Prinsep are on for Canterbury. The Wellington win the restart but it's messy but finally, Perenara clears down to halfway and the home side will build their attack.
49th minute - The confidence is flowing through Wellington's attack as they play up-tempo rugby and get down to Canterbury's 22. Savea picks and goes and is just 15-metres out. After 16-pohases, the referee plays advantage, as the attack continues but it comes to nothing. But it was 18-phases of brilliant attack but credit to the home side they hold on.
Wellington will have another shot at goal to extend their advantage. Garden-Bachop makes no mistake. (WEL 23-13)
46th minute - The clearing kick from Perenara is touched and goes into touch just inside Canterbury's half, so the visitors will have a lineout.
44th minute - Wellington is attacking just inches short of Canterbury's line and the home side do well to hold on but give away a penalty after eight phases.
Wellington will have a shot at goal from right in front and Garden-Bachop nails it. (WEL 20-13)
43rd minute - After a brilliant high catch from Love, Perenara puts a pin point kick into touch inside Canterbuyr's 22 and it's a 50/22.
42nd minute - Canterbury builds their attack on halfway but Perenara rips the ball clear but his scuffed kick goes into touch on halfway.
From the lineout Canterbury attack and after two good carries, Burke kicks into touch inside Wellington's 22.
40th minute - One change for Canterbury with Ngatungane Punavai on for Manasa Mataele. The home side gets the second half underway.
Halftime - From the lineout, Wellington goes wide to the backs and Perenara grubbers in behind but the Canterbury clean up and kick the ball into touch to end the first half.
40th minute - Wellington set a rolling maul as the siren goes for half-time. The maul gets down to halfway but Canterbury gives away a penalty and the visitors will have one final chance in the first half.
Lineout to Wellington on Canterbury's 22.
39th minute - After a long passage of play with both sides attacking around halfway sees Fihaki clear into touch just inside Wellington's half.
38th minute - Big mistake from Wellington who pass the ball back into their 22 and kick the ball out on the full so Canterbury will have a lineout 20-metres out.
But Canterbury loses another lineout and Wellington clears down to halfway.
36th minute - Change for Canterbury with George Bell on for an injured Brodie McAlister.
From the lineout, Wellington is building their attack and is just 15-metres out. Blackwell breaks a tackle and is brought down metres short. After 10 phases, Aumua storms his way over to put Wellington back in front.
Garden-Bachop converts the try. (WEL 17-13)
34th minute - Wellington starts to build their attack through strong runs from Lakai and Numia. At the breakdown, Wellington win a penalty and the visitors will have a lineout inside the 22.
32nd minute - Wellington win the restart and build their attack just short of thee 22. After four phases, Tom Christie gives away a breakdown penalty and Wellington will have a shot at goal to level the scores.
Garden-Bachop misses to the right. 22-metre drop-out to the home side.
30th minute - Wellington steals the lineout and Lakai makes a barnstorming run but from the breakdown, Canterbuyr wins another penalty and Burke will have a shot at goal from 47-metres out centre field.
Burke nails it to put the home side in front. (CAN 13-10)
28th minute - Canterbury is building the phases but the attack comes to nothing and the referee conmes back for a penalty for a high tackle by Kirifi. The home side will have a shot at goal from about 47 metres out to the right of the uprights.
Burke penalty goal hits the upright and misses and Love clears down to just short of halfway.
26th minute - Wellington steals the ball at the breakdown and Savea clears down to Canterbury's 22.
From the next breakdown, Wellington gives away a penalty and the home side will have a lineout on halfway.
25th minute - Both sides trade kicks as they look to play territory. Love finds touch for Wellington bang on halfway.
23rd minute - Canterbury clears nicely through Heinz who finds touch on halfway.
22nd minute - Canterbury strikes back after a great scrum. The home side comes to the right and a great backline move is finished in the corner but Mataele.
Burke converts the try from the sideline. (10-10)
20th minute - Canterbury is building their attack just inside Wellington's half. McLeod puts a chip kick behind but Perenara is there to clean up. Garden-Bachop will clear with a high kick and Canterbury will start their attack again.
McAlister burst down inside Wellington's 22 but his pass only finds Perenara. At the breakdown Canterbury win the scrum, which will be 15 metres out from the visitors' line, centre line.
17th minute - Garden-Bachop converts the try and Wellington opens up a seven-point lead. (WEL 10-3)
16th minute - Wellington clears from the ruck through Perenara and Canterbury will have a lineout just outside their own 22.
From the lineout, the Lions steal it and Kirifi fends off two defenders and breaks into the backfield. He draws and passes to love who scores in the corner. Great try Wellington!!
14th minute - Jackson Garden-Bachop makes no mistake and levels the scores. (3-3)
12th minute - Wellington is hot on attack after a break down the left from Aumua. The referee is playing advantage and Wellington builds the phases inside Canterbury's 22. After 10 phases, the attack comes to nothing but Wellington has a penalty just to the left of the posts.
The Lions will take a shot at goal to try to level the scores.
10th minute - A mistake this time from Canterbury with Burke's kick going dead in goal and it will be a scrum to Wellington on the home sides 10-metre line.
Ninth minute - The restart from Garden-Bachop goes straight out of play on the full and Canterbury will have a scrum on halfway.
Eighth minute - The penalty goal from Burke goals straight down the middle to open the scoring. (CAN 3-0)
Seventh minute - As Canterbury set up a rolling maul the ball comes out the back and hit Brendon Pickerill so will be a canterbury scrum.
From the scrum Canterbury win a penalty against Numia and the home side will have a shot at goal to try get some early points to try reward their pressure
Fifth minute - Canterbury are continuing to build pressure but Wellington's defence is standing firm. McLeod grubbers in behind but Savea cleans up just in front of his goalline. Garden-Bachop clears to just outside Wellington's 22.
Third minute - Even scrum from both sides and Canterbury is on the front foot after a strong run from Bridge. After eight phases, Aumua stripes the ball off Canterbury in the tackle but it goes forward and is a knock-on.
It will be a scrum to Canterbury on Wellington's 10-metre line.
Second minute - Both sides trade kicks to start the contest before Wellington spill a high kick from Heinz and it will be a scrum to Canterbury on halfway.
Kickoff - Wellington's Jackson Garden-Bachop gets this NPC final underway from Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
7:04pm - Both sides are out on the field, the national anthem has been played and we are just moments away from kick-off.
A late change for Wellington with PJ Sheck coming into the starting side for an injured Pekahou Cowan with Siale Lauaki coming onto the bench.
6:50pm - It's a beautiful day in Christchurch and we are just 15 minutes away from kick-off in what should be a scintillating final between two in-form teams.
******
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the National Provincial Championship final, as Canterbury host Wellington in Christchurch.
Both teams come into the decider in red-hot form, with Canterbury and Wellington both winning their last nine on the bounce.
Canterbury plays their first NPC final since 2018, after a hard-fought 24-10 victory over Bay of Plenty in the semi-finals where first-five eight Fergus Burke stole the show to score all of the Red and Blacks points.
The Lions booked their spot in the final after they dismantled Auckland 54-19 in Wellington, which was the first time they have cracked a half-century of points against the northerners in the history of their encounters.
Canterbury's wait for a title goes back to 2017 when they beat Tasman in the final while Wellington hasn't tasted glory since 2000 when their team had the likes of the late Jerry Collins and Jonah Lomu and All Black greats Christian Cullen Tana Umaga, Rodney So’oialo and was coached by Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
Canterbury has the physiological edge coming into the final having outclassed Wellington 43-10 in round three of this year's competition.
TAB odds: Canterbury $1.55, Wellington $2.40
Teams:
Canterbury: 1-Tamaiti Williams, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Zach Gallagher, 5-Dominic Gardiner, 6-Corey Kellow, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Billy Harmon (C), 9-Willi Heinz, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-George Bridge, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Dallas McLeod, 14-Manasa Mataele, 15-Chay Fihaki
Reserves: 16-George Bell, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Oli Jager, 19-Luke Romano, 20-Reed Prinsep, 21-Mitchell Drummond, 22-Isaiah Punivai, 23-Ngatungane Punavai
Wellington: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Pekahou Cowan, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Dominic Bird, 6-Caleb Delany, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi (c), 8-Peter Lakai, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Pepesana Patafilo, 12-Riley Higgins, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-James O'Reilly, 17-PJ Sheck, 18-Tietie Tuimauga, 19-Taine Plumtree, 20-Keelan Whitman, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop
