Choice!
NPC Final: Wellington
Match thread
Bay of Plenty
A most un-Wellington like win. Ugly as, showed real grit. BOP were more than worthy, could have easily won the game. It's a cliche but it's a shame there had to be a loser. Although I'm glad it was them... 
Classic how Harkin was able to slot the goal and kick his clearance out of our half while into the wind
@canefan said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
Classic how Harkin was able to slot the goal and kick his clearance out of our half while into the wind
Yeah he will start next year surely.
Congratulations Wellington. Fun watch. Both teams sustaining high phases on both attack and defence - impressive.
Player of the match and the season for me was Riley Higgins. He had some crucial touches in that game that turned the momentum in our favour.
@Canes4life said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
Player of the match and the season for me was Riley Higgins. He had some crucial touches in that game that turned the momentum in our favour.
Were they in the first half? He was pretty ordinary in the second.
That was a tense game to watch as a neutral. You have to feel for the likes of Ah Kuoi who have lost a few finals now.
Revolving subs in ET. 
Game was awesome. Went in and took my 8 year old daughter. Despite over dressing her had to leave at half time as she was frozen. Idiots at the stadium opened up the section that bore the brunt of the wind and rain.
A tense, tight final that honestly could have gone either way. A great finish to this year's NPC.
Commiserations to BOP.
Relived and pleased that Wellington won.
@antipodean Same thing happened to Shields
Entertaining game for the unaligned. Probably the better team won.
We have to do something about the quality of refereeing in this country too.
I hope we never see JGB in a Lions jersey again. A completely to script performance from him and I truly cannot fathom why our coaches do not see this, season after season. Thankfully Harkin came on for that last kick.
Shields was my MoM. Julian had a bit of 2015 about him today too!
Higgins and PUJ very good too.
@foobaNZ said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
I hope we never see JGB in a Lions jersey again. A completely to script performance from him and I truly cannot fathom why our coaches do not see this, season after season. Thankfully Harkin came on for that last kick.
Shields was my MoM. Julian had a bit of 2015 about him today too!
Higgins and PUJ very good too.
Big ups to Numia and Lauaki aswell for playing 89 mins before being subbed. Mammouth effort.
@Canes4life said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
Player of the match and the season for me was Riley Higgins. He had some crucial touches in that game that turned the momentum in our favour.
Maybe for the season overall, but I thought he was a little out of action today. Brad Shields was massive and led the defensive charge for the Lions. My MOTM
Congratulations Wellington, wish I got to see it. VPN not working for me and no local coverage on this trip.
Great season Bay fans
@ACT-Crusader said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
@Canes4life said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
Player of the match and the season for me was Riley Higgins. He had some crucial touches in that game that turned the momentum in our favour.
Maybe for the season overall, but I thought he was a little out of action today. Brad Shields was massive and led the defensive charge for the Lions. My MOTM
Yeah I thought the two midfields evened each other out but he had a couple of massive touches that turned the momentum back in our favour when BOP took the lead. Overall, a pretty impressive season and excited to see how he goes for the AB XV side.
@bayimports said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
Congratulations Wellington, wish I got to see it. VPN not working for me and no local coverage on this trip.
Great season Bay fans
Not always pretty, but it was a classic tussle. Both teams gave it heaps
Well done Wellington. Bit disappointed that bop did not set up for a droppy at end of normal time.
Shields and Kirifi won that match
@Canes4life said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
@foobaNZ said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
I hope we never see JGB in a Lions jersey again. A completely to script performance from him and I truly cannot fathom why our coaches do not see this, season after season. Thankfully Harkin came on for that last kick.
Shields was my MoM. Julian had a bit of 2015 about him today too!
Higgins and PUJ very good too.
Big ups to Numia and Lauaki aswell for playing 89 mins before being subbed. Mammouth effort.
I was in Monmouth this week. @MiketheSnow is that nearby?
@Bones said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
@Canes4life said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
@foobaNZ said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
I hope we never see JGB in a Lions jersey again. A completely to script performance from him and I truly cannot fathom why our coaches do not see this, season after season. Thankfully Harkin came on for that last kick.
Shields was my MoM. Julian had a bit of 2015 about him today too!
Higgins and PUJ very good too.
Big ups to Numia and Lauaki aswell for playing 89 mins before being subbed. Mammouth effort.
I was in Monmouth this week. @MiketheSnow is that nearby?
Mammoth lol bloody shitty old I-phone
@Bones said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
@Canes4life said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
@foobaNZ said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
I hope we never see JGB in a Lions jersey again. A completely to script performance from him and I truly cannot fathom why our coaches do not see this, season after season. Thankfully Harkin came on for that last kick.
Shields was my MoM. Julian had a bit of 2015 about him today too!
Higgins and PUJ very good too.
Big ups to Numia and Lauaki aswell for playing 89 mins before being subbed. Mammouth effort.
I was in Monmouth this week. @MiketheSnow is that nearby?
40 mins
Lovely part of the world
Autumn on the River Wye is something special
@Machpants said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
It's just final, not grand final, ffs
Stop grandstanding.
@Canes4life A superb final, a fantastic advert for New Zealand provincial rugby.
@DurryMexted said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:
You know your 7 is awesome when every other teams supporters hate him. Kirifi a lions legend
There aren't many players that put their body on the line like Kirifi. Two championships as a Lions captain, he'll always be a Wellington legend.
You know we've finally got our shit sorted when we've been able to finish the business. A winning % of 85% over the last three seasons is pretty good going. Hopefully we can keep the core of this group together for another couple seasons yet.