mens
bunnings-npc
Canterbury have kept theirs Hilux NPC crowned with a hard fought 43-24 win over Northland Monsters at One New Zealand Christchurch Stadium.
The home team trailed 21-10 at halftime, but stormed home in front of a sold-out home crowd to win their 16th NPC title.
Alex Robertson’s side ultimately had too much quality for the visitors, despite a valiant effort from Northland on Monday afternoon.
Canterbury influence, led All black people whore George Bell and Bosses winger Isaac Hutchinson, was the difference as the home side squeezed past Ryan Martin’s Northland in the second forty minutes.
Both sides had incredible moments in a game that saw momentum and several lead changes.
The key moment came late in the second half, when Northland’s inspirational half-back Sam Nock was booked, which Canterbury capitalized on through Hutchinson.
The home team opened the scoring in the final through one of their most influential players of the season, Dominic Gardiner, who scored from close range.
Andrew Knewstubb briefly celebrated a big tackle on Northland winger Brady Rush, only to be shown a yellow card after a review by referee James Doleman, who kept Canterbury’s first five for ten minutes.
Northland capitalized in the next phase of the game, with Jordan Heremaia Murray is set up by the coach after a subtle foul. The shot tipped Chay Fihaki, leaving Murray to take the ball up and down for Northland’s first of the final. Rivez Reihana scored the conversion from ten meters from touch.
Martin’s side struggled away with one-time ball carriers close to the Canterbury line, before finally extending their lead to nine. Marcel Renata went close but it was Trainor who broke through two Canterbury forwards to give Northland some breathing room.
Northland then came from behind the knockdown line to break through to score on the stroke of half-time, with inspirational leader Sam Nock making the break. Ex Blues the half-back burst through a gap in the Canterbury defense before linking up with Corey Evans close to the line.
Evans fended off two defenders, knocking the ball down to give the traveling Northland faithful more reason to believe. Reihana, once again, sent the conversion over the post to give the away side a healthy lead at half-time.
HT: 21-10 to Northland.
Gardiner, like in the first half, started hissing and roaring with ball in hand, putting Canterbury over the line. The home side then hit a reliable line, after Nock was shown a yellow card for some cynical defending.
Northland looked like they might have stopped the roll, but a strong second kick led to a George Bell whore conversion to contest with a one-point margin.
It was that man again, Bell, who put Canterbury ahead in the 54th minute, finding a narrow gap to the right of the post after Louis Chapman’s pop pass. Despite several last-ditch attempts to equalise, Bell was too strong, giving Canterbury a three-point lead with 24 minutes to play.
Reihana continued his fine form off the boot to level the game at 24-all, before Canterbury went back in front a few minutes later.
In an unprecedented 25-phase attack from Canterbury, substitute winger Isaac Hutchinson slotted in, diving under two covers of Northland defenders in the 63rd minute. Fihaki took the goal from an inconsistent Knewstubb and the one-Test All Black knocked over the conversion with ease.
The visitors, who never gave up in their first NPC final, had their chances inside the Canterbury 22-metre line but were twice spurned by a lack of execution.
Hutchinson struck what looked like the killer blow in the 74th minute, after the ever-present Gardiner pounced on Johnny McNicholl’s line break.
But a few minutes later, Tyson Belworthy said to hold my beer. The substitute half-back took the ball from the back of the scrum, backed up his pace, pinned his ears back and slotted into the right corner to clinch the 2026 Hilux NPC title.
FT: 43-24 to Canterbury over Northland.
