The Wellington Lions ended a 22-year title drought when they clinched a 26-18 victory over Canterbury in New Zealand’s Bunnings National Provincial Championship final over the weekend.

Despite playing against the weight of history and expectations, the Lions’ 22-year wait for the title is over at long last, and they did it in style. Power and precision proved key for the Lions as they romped to an eight-point triumph over their more accomplished, and more favored, opponents.

What Wellington Were Up Against

History has not been kind to the Lions. Since they last lifted the title back in 2000—a win which also came against Canterbury—the Lions have lost nine finals, a whopping four of them also against the Christchurch-based side.

Coming into this clash, there was an air of expectancy from the people of the Wellington region that their team ought to go all the way this year, especially since they had broken their 14-year Ranfurly Shield drought when they beat Hawkes Bay earlier in the season.

And yet, having been dismantled 43-10 in round three of the competition by Canterbury and with Christchurch being the host venue for the final, the Wellingtonians were up against the odds.

After all, Canterbury have clinched 11 of their 14 titles since Wellington won their last one and have lost just one final at home in the last 15 years. 

Undeterred & Undaunted

Sitting on a 10-match unbeaten streak, Wellington, through their powerful forwards, took the fight to Canterbury and stamped their authority on the game from the get-go. The Lions suffered a setback when prop Pek Cowan was forced to withdraw with an injury before kickoff and replaced by PJ Sheck in the run-on XV with Siale Lauaki coming onto the bench.

The disruption mattered little, though.

The Lions were dominant at set-pieces, but ill-discipline cost them early on as Canterbury opted to kick at goal after the visitors were penalized. Fergus Burke converted the opportunity into points. The scoreboard soon reflected the pattern of play as the Lions chalked up a quick fire 10 points via a converted try and a penalty. 

Not to be outdone so early in the clash, Cantenbury answered with a 10-point turnaround of their own, via a try from Manasa Mataele and conversion and penalty off the boot of Burke.

But Wellington re-established their advantage on the scoreboard as hooker Asafo Aumua stormed over the tryline.

Trailing 17-10 at the break would not have sat well with Canterbury and the squad's second half all-out attacking onslaught was expected and fierce. But defense wins matches and that is precisely what Wellington did, producing what could be their best defensive performance of the season. Their steadfast determination disrupted Canterbury’s flow and left the hosts rattled.

Soon, Wellington also started to dominate territory and possession and in quick succession, the flags went up on two strikes from Jackson Garden-Bachop to extend their lead to 23-13.

But while the door to glory was rapidly closing for Canterbury, it wasn’t shut just yet. Wellington’s replacement kicker skewed two attempts at goal in the 65th and 75th minute and when Ngatungane Punivai crashed over the tryline for Canterbury’s first points of the second half to make it a five-point game, followed by a yellow card for Wellington’s Richard Judd, it was game on.

The Lions recouped quickly in the dying minutes of the clash and ultimately held their nerve to do what many of their world-renowned predecessors failed to do: send New Zealand’s most coveted provincial title to Wellington.