NPC final

Match starts at 23:05 PM · There's no secret that Canterbury have dominated this competition, with 14 NPC titles, and if they win again tonight you'd expect it ...

Replacement Wellington halfback Richard Judd was yellow carded for a late tackle, but Wellington survived the final two-and-a-half minutes to emerge deserved victors. What a season for Wellington. Canterbury largely dominated territory and possession in the first half through their kick-first approach but other than a try to Manasa Mataele they were kept in the contest through Fergus Burke's boot. Replacement playmaker Aidan Morgan should have put the contest to bed but he missed two penalties – in the 65th and 75th minute – to open the door. While their scrum was shaky in the first half after losing starting prop Pek Cowan to injury in the warm-up, Wellington's lineout enjoyed dominance to steal two Canterbury throws – one of which led to the opening try for Ruben Love after a superb bust from Du'Plessis Kirifi. To achieve such a feat in Christchurch, a graveyard for visiting teams, only enhances the significance.