3 February, 2026, 5:54 pm Central - 30°C Rain

Wellington Lions defeat Bay of Plenty 23-20 at extra time to win the NPC trophy

Wellington Lions defeat Bay of Plenty 23-20 at extra time to win the NPC trophy

By Mikaele Liga
26/10/2024
Photo: Stuff.co

It was celebrations and despair as the Wellington Lions team won in extra time in difficult conditions to defeat Bay of Plenty 23-20 in the final of the NPC this afternoon.

It was a fitting final at the Sky Stadium in Wellington as finalists Bay of Plenty and the Wellington Lions rugby teams were locked in a 20-all draw.

Both teams displayed aggressive, constructive, and free-flow rugby as they went into extra time to decide the winner of the trophy.

Wellington led Bay of Plenty at halftime with 15-7.

In the second half, Bay of Plenty showed a lot of grit and firepower to close the scoreboard and eventually, lock the points at 20-20 with six minutes left on the final.

The Bay of Plenty side completed 19 phases, but could not conceive any points.

In the final ten minutes, Wellington Lions fly-half Callum Harkin slotted in a penalty kick to seal their win.

FNRL
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