Wellington has ended their 22-year title drought to win the National Provincial Championship with a clinical and impressive 26-18 victory over Canterbury.
Both sides came into the contest on a nine-game winning streak and the match lived up to the high-profile billing at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium.
The two teams were willing to throw the ball around on a perfect Christchurch evening but Wellington's defence was the difference as they stifled Canterbury's attack and won crucial breakdown penalties.
The boot of Ruben Love and Jackson Garden-Bachop proved to be the difference between the two sides, who both scored two tries, as Wellington finished the season with both the NPC title and the Ranfurly shield.
The final started at a rip-roaring pace with Canterbury winning the early territory battle.
The two sides traded penalty goals through Canterbury's Fergus Burke and Wellington's Jackson Garden-Bachop, but it was the Lions who grabbed the game's first try after 17-minutes.
Wellington stole a Canterbury lineout and captain Du'Plessis Kirifi - whose leadership was crucial throughout the final - stormed downfield after fending off two weak tackles before putting Love over in the corner.
Canterbury hit straight back five minutes later when wing Manasa Mataele finished a backline move in the corner off the back of a strong scrum from the home side.
Burke put Cantebury back ahead with a penalty goal, but that lead was short lived as Wellington hit the front four minutes before halftime.
After a scintillating attack inside Canterbury's 22, an impressive Asafo Aumua smashed his way over to give Wellington a 17-13 lead at the break.
Wellington started the second half brilliantly with a high-tempo attack deep in Canterbury's half and was rewarded with two penalty goals to open a 10-point lead.
The visitors' defence continued to frustrate the home side, who struggled to find their groove in attack as they looked for their first title since 2017.
Wellington continued to dominate territory but couldn't put the match to bed, as substitute first-five eight Aidan Morgan missed two crucial penalty goals.
Those misses looked like being costly when Canterbury set up a grandstand finish when replacement back Ngatungane Punavai finished a brilliant team try.
The try was created by Tom Christie who broke several tackles before offloading to fullback Chay Fihaki. He kicked in behind and Punavai won the footrace to make it 23-18 with two minutes left.
Canterbury is known for being clinical, but when it mattered most, they knocked on from the restart to hand possession to Wellington.
The visitors ran down the clock, which eventually saw them win a penalty which Love slammed over to seal the result and take their winning streak to 10.
Wellington 26 (Ruben Love, Asafo Aumua tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 3 penalty goals, 2 conversions, Love penalty goal) Canterbury 18 (Manasa Mataele, Ngatungane Punavai tries, Fergus Burke 2 penalty goals, conversion)
