Canterbury have kept their hopes of a 10th National Provincial Championship crown alive, overcoming archrivals Auckland 29-19 in the first quarter-final.
The nothern visitors enjoyed a lead early in the second half, when winger Salesi Rayasi powered over for a try, but the red-and-blacks responded with two tries to hooker George Bell and fullback Chay Fihaki, holding off a late challenge for victory.
After falling to Auckland in the regular saeson, the home side dominated early possession and territory, but were denied an opening try, when Fihaki lost the ball in a desperate tackle by Auckland fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, as he dove for the corner.
They lost the services of prop Joe Moody before kickoff, amid rumours of a World Cup call-up by the All Blacks, and they soon lost first-five Fergus Burke to injury, ushering former All Blacks midfilder Ryan Crotty into the contest early and forcing a reshuffle of the backline.
Second-five Rameka Poihipi moved in a spot, inherited the kicking tee and opened the scoring with a penalty, but with their first real attacking opportunity, Auckland responded with a linebreak from Rayasi and close-range try by lock Josh Beehre.
Poihipi had another penalty attempt bounce away off an upright, before Canterbury finally found the tryline, with winger Solomon Alaimalo given space down the sideline to score.
Sullivan had a chance to level the scores at halftime, but watched his penalty attempt drift left, as the red-and-blacks led 10-7 at the break.
Within seconds of the restart, Tuivasa-Sheck broke upfield and found Rayasi with a long bouncepass, with the winger cutting inside two defenders to power over for a go-ahead try.
Canterbury hooker George Bell responded immediately, after flanker Billy Harmon rumbled 20 metres from an attacking lineout, while Fihaki finally had his try, when Poihipi shrugged off a tackle on halfway and ran to within metres of the line himself.
Auckland needed to score next, if they were to keep the contest alive and they threw everything at the opposition defence, putting together phase after phase inside the 22, before Beehre barged over for his second.
Sullivan's extra points brought the visitors within a converted try of victory with 10 minutes left. Another searing run from Tuivasa-Sheck - in his last rugby outing before returning to NZ Warriors - put them back on attack, but Canterbury repelled that bid and sealed victory with a try to replacement winger Blair Murray.
With seconds remaining, Auckland wing AJ Lam dove over in the corner and his team could steal the game with a length-of-the-field try after the siren. That faint hope ended, when second-five Bryce Heem knocked on in a tackle inside his own half.
"What a battle," reflected Canterbury captain Harmon. "We had a close battle with them a couple of weeks ago, so we owed them one.
"We're pretty lucky with some of the experience we get to bring on, the likes of Ryan Crotty and even young guys like Blair Murray, who's in some form."
They now await the winners of the other three quarter-finals this weekend, with semis match-ups determined on seedings.
Canterbury 29 (Alaimalo, Bell, Fihaki & Murray tries; Poihipi penalty & 3 conversions) Auckland 19 (Beehre 2 & Rayasi tries; Sullivan 2 conversions)
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