Top-four sides advance to NPC semifinals
- harrisonryburn18
- Oct 12
- 2 min read
Otago have been joined by Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury in the semifinals of the 2025 National Provincial Championship (NPC).
Bay of Plenty were comfortable 27-7 winners over Tasman at the Tauranga Domain, while Hawke’s Bay defeated Taranaki 26-12 at McLean Park in Napier.
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The Steamers found themselves trailing 6-7 at the half-time break to a Kyran Taumoefolau try for Tasman, in the first of the day’s quarter-finals.
They shut out their opponents in the second half though, scoring three tries and profiting from a yellow card to Tasman fly-half William Havili, as Bay of Plenty piled on 21 unanswered points and cruised to an ultimately comfortable 27-7 victory.
Fly-half Lucas Cashmore was the orchestrator, setting up two superb tries for Kele Lasaqa and Fehi Fineangonofo as the Steamers pulled away in the second half.
Bay of Plenty are attempting to win their first NPC title since 1976, having lost the final in extra-time to Wellington last year.
In the second of Saturday’s quarter-finals, Taranaki had three tries disallowed as Hawke’s Bay also pulled away in the second half for victory.
The Magpies built on their 14-6 lead at half-time, running out assured victors with second half tries to Lincoln McClutchie and Sam Smith.
Yellow cards were also a feature across the clash, Folau Fakatava and Isaia Walker-Leaware both heading to the bin for Hawke’s Bay, and Kaylum Boshier likewise for Taranaki.
In the last of the four semifinalists, Canterbury who had led almost from start-to-finish of the competition had to wait until extra time to beat Counties Manukau the last qualifier.
With the advantage of a howling wind, they took a 15-5 lead into halftime, Canterbury struck back and levelled it up with a converted try, after Braydon Ennor crashed over.
The scores were locked at 15-all at the end of regular time and Canterbury had just enough left in the tank to overcome a brave Steelers side during the added 20 minutes.
The score remained 15-all, as Canterbury missed a chance with two minutes to go, when Chay Fihaki lined up a penalty from an outrageous 72 metres, but even the gusting wind couldn't carry the distance and the sides had a two-minute break, as the referee called for 20 minutes of extra time.
Canterbury took the lead, with Fihaki crossing over, after a sustained period of attack from the red-and-blacks, before kicking a penalty with six minutes remaining.
On Friday night, Otago beat Waikato 44-41 in Dunedin thanks to a Cameron Millar penalty on fulltime.
Otago will play Bay of Plenty in the first semifinal in Dunedin on Friday (kick-off 7.15pm), while Canterbury will face Hawke's Bay on Saturday (kick-off 7:15pm).
