Canterbury will host the 2022 National Provincial Championship final, after a 24-10 semi-final victory over Bay of Plenty in Christchurch.
In a convincing display led by first-five Fergus Burke, Canterbury left the Steamers waiting another year for victory in Christchurch - with their winless streak dating back to 1975.
With two tries, one conversion and four penalties, Burke scored all of Canterbury's points, putting his side into their first NPC final since 2018, with their last title coming a year earlier.
The Red and Blacks will meet Wellington at the same venue next weekend, who themselves are out to end a first-division title drought that dates back to 2000.
In a slow start to the first half, with only penalties scored in the opening half-hour, Canterbury opened the scoring after 36 minutes when first-five Fergus Burke went over in the corner.
Canterbury took an 11-3 advantage into the break, thanks largely to the home side's defence repelling Bay of Plenty's attack.
Bay of Plenty hit back after the break, as No.8 Naitoa Ah Kuoi went over from close range to bring the score back to 11-10, before Burke took control of the match.
A break from second-five Rameka Poihipi put hooker Brodie McAlister into space, who found Burke unmarked to go in for his second try of the night, as Canterbury didn't relent en route to victory.
Showing the nous of a team that knows how to win knockout matches, Canterbury shut Bay of Plenty out of the contest with their suffocating defence, and finished off the match with two more penalties to Burke.
The victory was Canterbury's eighth in succession this season, and they will look for a ninth on the bounce in next weekend's final.
Canterbury 24 (Burke 2 tries; Burke conversion; Burke 4 penalties) Bay of Plenty 10 (Ah Kuoi try; Hawera conversion; Hawera penalty)
Join Newshub for live updates of the NPC final between Canterbury and Wellington from 7pm Saturday.
