Otago 41 Bay of Plenty 17
Otago's faithful provided a rousing atmosphere for the home team at Forsyth Barr Stadium as they prepared to deal with a strong semi-final challenge from Bay of Plenty. Into the ninth minute, after working to break the Otago defence, the chance came on the left flank, where flanker Viveni Lasaqa used his speed to score out wide. Four minutes later, a strong run across the front of the goal line by wing Jae Broomfield set up follow-up runs by flanker Lucas Casey, second five-eighths Thomas Umaga-Jensen, before wing Jona Nareki tidied up the ball to cut back across the defence to score. Turnover ball in the 18th minute allowed first five-eighths Lucas Cashmore to cross-kick to the unmarked wing Fehi Fineanganofa, who beat two defenders before passing inside for fullback Cole Forbes to score. Into the second quarter, Otago prop Abraham Pole made a strong run in midfield and set up ball to be moved wide while Casey and Broomfield built momentum that resulted in the ball being moved inside, where No8 Christian Lio-Willie scored. As the intensity began to build from both sides, Otago lost Broomfield to the sin-bin after a head-on-head clash with Bay hooker Taine Kolose. Undeterred, Otago finished the half strongly and after runs by Lio-Willie and hooker Nic Souchon, quick ball from a ruck on the line flanker Will Stodart drove over to score and give Otago a 21-12 lead at halftime.
Five minutes into the second half, halfback Dylan Pledger's quick work from the base of rucks allowed first five-eighths Cam Millar to run into space before unloading inside to Pledger, who was on hand in support to score. Miller landed a 59th-minute penalty goal after some impressive Otago counter-rucking. Then, effective chasing of a Pledger box kick by Nareki saw the Bay attempt to move the ball with a cross-kick. However, Broomfield got up to take the ball instead, and as he straightened play, replacement fullback Finn Hurley raced up quickly inside him and had too much speed for the Bay defence to extend the lead in the 66th minute. Bay wing Ngarohi McGarvey-Black got the ball on the end of the line and chip-kicked ahead, where the bounce of the ball undid the defence, allowing him to score. Four minutes from the end, soon departing Otago fullback Sam Gilbert pushed his side out to 41 points with a penalty goal to confirm a decisive win.
Otago 41 (Jona Nareki, Christian Lio-Willie, Will Stodart, Dylan Pledger, Finn Hurley tries; 5 con, pen; Sam Gilbert pen) Bay of Plenty 17 (Viveni Lasaqa, Cole Forbes, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black tries; Lucas Cashmore con). HT: 21-12
Canterbury 43 Hawke's Bay 19
Canterbury captain Tom Christie set the scene for a powerful forward effort in Christchurch against Hawke's Bay when his eighth-minute turnover at a ruck set the wheels in motion for the opening try of the game. No8 Dom Gardiner carried the play on before lock Jamie Hannah was on hand as a link to wing Ngantungane Punivai, who scored. No8 Devan Flanders was denied a try when the ball was ruled dead before he grounded it. Still, Canterbury quickly turned play around and after a strong run by second five-eighths Dallas McLeod, and flanker Zach Gallagher before hooker George Bell was held in a tackle before slipping the ball to lock Sam Darry who was denied before the ball was moved with Punivai looking to score, only to be denied when the TMO showed he stepped on the sideline in the 16th minute. However, play returned for an earlier penalty, and the Canterbury pack worked the ball across the field through seven phases before Darry finally got his try in the 18th minute. Punivai was sin-binned for 20 minutes for a deliberate knock-on, and four minutes later, a Flanders ruck steal resulted in a cross-field kick by flanker Sam Smith, set up by wing Jonah Lowe. The ball went back across the field, where wing Neria Fomai ran in the Bay's opening try. Ten phases around the 34th minute saw halfback Folau Fakatava make a strong run to close to the goal line before getting back up and being on hand behind the ruck to put the ball down to get Hawke's Bay to one point behind at halftime.
Hawke's Bay had an early chance in the second half, but the ball was dropped short of the line. Canterbury managed to clear, and in the 51st minute, the forwards, especially Hannah, lock George Bell and Christie, who worked towards the line where the ball was released for second five-eighths Dallas McLeod to score. Four minutes later, McLeod was in again under similar circumstances. Hawke's Bay were chasing the game, and in the 65th minute, a Darry chargedown and regather of a Fakatava clearing kick set the scene for the game-breaking movement. Hannah was involved again before passing to prop replacement Daniel Lienert-Brown. The Bay picked up a consolation try with 10 minutes left when Lowe scored. But the final say went to Canterbury when Punivai ran in from his wing to make a break, link with replacement forward Liam Jack, who fed his skipper over for the final try.
Canterbury 43 (Ngantungane Punivai, Sam Darry, Dallas McLeod 2, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Tom Christie tries; Chay Fihaki 5 con, pen) Hawke's Bay 19 (Neria Fomai, Folau Fakatava, James Lowe tries; Lincoln McClutchie 2 con). HT: 15-14
