What a game of footy. Wellington win a high-scoring affair and secure promotion to next season's Premiership. Bay of Plenty played well, but the Lions were just too good in the end. I feel like I can relate to the players, we all put in a 100 minute effort.
FULLTIME: WELLINGTON 59 BAY OF PLENTY 45
99mins: TRY BAY OF PLENTY: The Steamers have the last say! They may not have won, but they've shown incredible resolve. Mitchell Karpik the try-scorer after a scrum just a few metres out.
99mins: Wellington will have the throw into the lineout just 10m out from their try line. Comes after a promising run by Tiatia, who's been good all night.
97mins: Every BOP player showing incredible fight. The result is all but over but they're certainly not quitting.
95mins: No, it's ruled to have been lost forward. Tiatia had looked to have gone over, but the TMO rules Tom Franklin to have lost the ball forward in the movement prior. The Wellington player had ripped the ball out, but it's deemed to be a knock on.
95mins: BOP could possibly be in for their first try of extra time. They're going upstairs...
93mins: TRY WELLINGTON: Savea is just scary! The bus gets the ball about 20m out from the try line off the back of a scrum and bumps two BOP players into next week one after another. Has looked dangerous every time he's got the ball. Conversion is good and the Lions seemed to have put the game to bed.
92mins: Webber penalised for knocking the ball down and Wellington will look for touch. Got to think they want to chew as much time as possible. Or possibly score, they've done pretty well at that too.
90mins: And we're underway. BOP have just 10 minutes to do something very special.
HALFTIME EXTRATIME: Wellington dominating possession in the second-half. Garden-Bachop kicks the ball out and we'll have a minute's break before the second half of extra time.
87mins: TRY WELLINGTON: They're in again! Wellington have stunned BOP here with a quick-fire double. Replacement Sitiveni Paongo
got the five-pointer. You have to think the amount of tackles BOP have had to make are showing now. Garden-Bachop misses the kick and it's Wellington who lead 52-40.
85mins: TRY WELLINGTON: Wes Goosen goes over for the home side! The South African-born player gets the ball out wide and decides to hold on to the ball and back himself before scoring. Garden-Bachop nails the conversion and Wellington lead 47-40.
83mins: Forward pass keeps Wellington out. They looked to be in, but instead BOP will have the scrum right in front of the own try line.
81mins: We're already underway by the way! Not much of a break for the players. Wellington have made a strong start to extra time.
81mins: There's no golden point or try rule. So no matter what an extra 20 minutes will be played. What a way to win promotion.
80mins: And he misses! We're headed for extra time! The distance was good, but it was always going right. Extra time consists of two 10 minute halves.
80mins: Wellington win the penalty 45m out on the angle! Big kick for a player who's had an off night with the boot. Garden-Bachop has the chance to send Wellington to the Premiership.
78mins: TRY BAY OF PLENTY: Would you believe it?! The Steamers hit back with a try to Terrence Hepetema. Tiatia somehow found his second-five with an offload between two Lions players. Delany nails the conversion and we're locked up at 40-all. Could we be in for extra time?
76mins: BOP have the scrum about 35m out from Wellington's try line. A promising position ends with a Lousi turnover. Wellington clear.
73mins: TRY WELLINGTON: Alex Fidow scores what may be the winning try! Lions showed tremendous patience, taking the ball up grass blade at a time before Fidow went over. Wellington's props have been on fire this game! Garden-Bachop actually kicks it! And Wellington lead 40-33 with just over five minutes to go.
73mins: Wellington edging closer and closer, this is going down to the wire...
71mins: Interesting stat: BOP have had to make almost twice the amount of tackles tonight. Will it show in the last 10 minutes?
68mins: Big collision after another. Both sides hitting contact hard. BOP knock the ball on after winning a turnover. Lions to scrum down on the Steamers 22m.
66mins: Steamers win the penalty on their own 40m after the Lions looked very promising. Delany sends it to touch and they'll have the throw.
64mins: Have to hand it to both sides. Neither side look out of it after their opponent scores. Will Wellington now respond?
61mins: TRY BAY OF PLENTY: Replacement Jesse Parete hits back immediately for the visitors. BOP went through the phases and left it to their forwards to pick and drive attempt after attempt. Parete eventually jumps over the ruck to score just a metre out. Delany misses and we're all tied up at 33.
58mins: TRY WELLINGTON: Fahamokioa gets his second! The prop scores from the back of a great driving maul from the Lions. He had a bit of grass to cover, but did so with ease. Garden-Bachop misses another kick.
56mins: Wellington win the penalty and will go for touch. Very kickable - But maybe Garden Bachop's night with the boot has Shields thinkig try instead.
54mins: Chase Tiatia saves the day for BOP! Wes Goosen looked to have gathered the ball from a chip kick but the Steamers fullback ripped the ball away and kick it to touch.
52mins: TRY BAY OF PLENTY: Simply brilliant from Joe Webber! A try of the season contender. The winger got the ball on halfway before weaving through a number of Wellington players to score in the right corner. Pure pace that was! And Delany levels the game up with the conversion. 28 all.
48mins: TRY BAY OF PLENTY: Steamers are back in it! Number eight Tyler Ardron scores the try after he intercepted a pass from Garden-Bachop just 20m out to race away under the posts. Conversion is good and the lead is just seven.
45mins: PENALTY WELLINGTON: Umanga-Jensen runs hard and strong at the line after the Lions won their own lineout. BOP lock Tom Franklin is curiously penalised for knocking the ball down intentionally. Garden-Bachop kicks the goal and Wellington extend their lead to 28-14.
43mins: Steamers looking to respond now. Monty Ioane makes a strong run before they concede the penalty at the breakdown. Have Wellington finally taken over the game? Garden-Bachop looks for touch and the Lions will throw in.
40mins: TRY WELLINGTON: Shields scores the try! The skipper had already been playing a blinder, but now has a five-pointer to his name. Shields chased the kick-off hard before charging down Mike Delany's kick and scoring brilliantly in the corner with very little space to work with. The conversion is missed.
40mins: And Wellington could be in again straight from the kick-off to the second half.
HALFTIME: WELLINGTON 20 BAY OF PLENTY 14
39mins: Wellington almost in again! Alex Fidow was put through a gaping hole in the BOP defence. But the prop can't find support and the Steamers turn the ball over.
38mins: Can BOP respond before the break? Shields fields the Delany kick-off. The Lions skipper has been everywhere so far.
36mins: TRY WELLINGTON: Tolu Fahamokioa is over in the left hand corner! Quick hands from the Wellington players leads to the big prop crashing over. A huge blow before half time. Garden-Bachop misses the conversion to the left.
35mins: So we're only a few minutes from half time and it's very evenly matched at this point. Just when you think Wellington should assert their dominance and take-over, BOP hit back.
32mins: TRY WELLINGTON: The Lions hit back! Lock Sam Lousi does the sneaky and scores after picking the ball up one handed from a ruck 20m out and races away to score. Garden-Bachop adds the two and the home side lead 15-14.
30mins: Savea breaks yet another tackle after a lineout win for Wellington. He's avoiding BOP defenders like he has the media all week!
28mins: Delany kicks an absolute cherry into the corner. Wellington have the throw, but only a couple of metres out from their own try line.
26mins: PENALTY WELLINGTON: And Wellington respond with a successful kick to goal. BOP lead 14-8.
26mins: Shields decides the three points may be the best option now. Garden-Bachop will line this up about 25m out on the angle.
24mins: Wellington looking to respond. They have the lineout throw just 10m out from the BOP try line. Great touch finder by Garden-Bachop.
22mins: TRY BAY OF PLENTY: Wow, Joe Webber! The former sevens star scores 50m out. A bit of force back between the two sides lead to the winger getting the ball on halfway, before beating the first man with pace, then the second with brute strength. Delany adds the two and BOP extend their lead to 14-5.
20mins: Savea looking like he's playing with a chip on his shoulder - running very strong.
18mins: Well, nevermind then! Umanga-Jensen looked to have had his second try of the game after reaching over. But the TMO decides the second-five was offside at the scrum.
17mins: Wellington win the penalty and decide to turn down the easy three and scrum down. They feel they have the momentum.
16mins: Savea goes straight through! The bus just had too many to beat and is eventually taken down around the BOP 22m. Wellington looking good to score here...and have the advantage.
14mins: TRY WELLINGTON: Wes Goosen take a bow! The centre sees space, puts up a chip kick, gets the bounce and somehow finds Thomas Umanga-Jensen with the pass and the second-five scores in the left corner. Garden-Bachop puts the kick wide. BOP 7-5 Lions
12mins: BOP are almost in again! Joe Webber is put through a hole before finding Terrence Hepetema - but a turnover from the Lions skipper Shields saves the day.
12mins: A grubber kick almost pays off for Wellington but BOP do well to cover and they'll have another scrum after a Lions player seemed to have lost it forward.
10mins: A few carries for the fatties after a lineout win leads to a knock on from the Steamers. Lions have the feed about 15m out from their own try line.
8mins: Wellington concede the penalty. In a very strange passage of play, Shields is deemed to have held on too long. Seemed they had initially won the penalty. BOP going for touch.
6mins: BOP looking confident with the ball in hand - but a knockon from left winger Joe Webber means the Lions will put into the scrum just infront of their own 40m.
4mins: TRY BAY OF PLENTY: Halfback Luke Campbell scores the game's first try. The Steamers went through the phases, forcing Wellington to go off-side but it wasn't enough as Campbell goes over after the TMO confirmed he'd got the ball on the line. Delany adds the extras.
4mins: Steamers could be in for the game's first try. We're going upstairs. BOP are confident and have made their way back to half way.
3mins: BOP making steady progress, each runner looking dangerous. Only a few metres out now from the Lions try line, and have earned the advantage from the referee for off-side from Wellington.
1mins: Wellington prepared to play it out of their 22m instead of kick. But Jackson Garden-Bachop loses it and we'll have a scrum. Great attacking position to start for BOP.
KICKOFF: And we're underway! Who will be the newest addition to the Premiership? Mike Delany sends the ball long and is taken in by big Julian Savea.
7:35pm: It's the final - so time for the national anthem.
7:34pm: Now Brad Shields leads out the home side to a roar from the fans in attendance.
7:32pm: Bay of Plenty now making their way out. They've won the pre-match toss and will kick-off.
7:31pm: How big of a loss will new All Black Asafo Aumua be? The hooker has been a superb form, hence the call-up to the national side. Leni Apisai will be his replacement having just returned from injury.
7:28pm: Wellington recorded a 31-10 victory over the Steamers back in week three of the competition, and that was away. Be a great upset if the Bay could pull off the win and secure promotion to the Premiership.
7:22pm: We're just under 10 minutes away to kick-off. Players are still out on the field warming up. Plenty of support for both sides in the stands. This should be fun.
Hello and welcome to live updates of the Mitre 10 Cup Championship final between the Wellington Lions and the Bay of Plenty Steamers at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. VIDEO will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
Commentary will start from around 7:20 pm (NZT).
Wellington
1. Tolu Fahamokioa, 2. Leni Apisai, 3. Alex Fidow, 4. Sam Lousi, 5. Will Mangos, 6. James Blackwell, 7. Mateaki Kafatolu, 8. Brad Shields (c), 9. Sheridan Rangihuna, 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Ben Lam, 12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13. Wes Goosen, 14. Julian Savea, 15. Trent Renata
16. Sitiveni Paongo, 17. Vince Sakaria, 18. Joe Apikotoa, 19. Galu Taufale, 20. Du’Plessis Kirifi , 21. Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 22. Regan Verney, 23. Malo Tuitama
Bay of Plenty
1. Aidan Ross , 2. Liam Polwart, 3. Jeff Thwaites, 4. Keepa Mewett (c), 5. Tom Franklin, 6. Mitchell Karpik, 7. Hugh Blake, 8. Tyler Ardron, 9. Luke Campbell, 10. Mike Delany, 11. Joe Webber , 12. Terrence Hepetema, 13. Lalakai Foket, 14. Monty Ioane, 15. Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16. James O'Reilly, 17. Jordan Lay, 18. James Lay, 19. Troy Callander, 20. Jesse Parete, 21. Te Aihe Toma, 22. Matthew Garland, 23. Elijah Nicholas
