Bay of Plenty edge Northland in tight NPC finish
Bay of Plenty beat Northland 34:31 in the Bunnings NPC on Saturday. The hosts managed to hold on for a narrow win in a contest that never really settled. It was a result that reflected the recent form of both sides.
And here's the thing, the form guide suggested a wider margin. Both sides have been stumbling recently. The hosts lost their last outing against Waikato, while the visitors drew with Canterbury. To be fair, Northland had bounced back with a 40:14 win against Manawatu just a few days prior.
The scoreline told the story of a game where momentum shifted. It wasn't a rout, but a battle where every point mattered. By then, the nerves were showing on both benches.
The hosts had won three of their previous five games, including a heavy 41:5 victory over Waikato. Northland had also won four of their last five, with a draw against Canterbury being the exception. The result keeps the hosts in contention.
They took the points from a side that had been competitive, even if their consistency has been patchy. The hosts will look to build on this momentum. The table does not move much on one result.