Ex-SVNS flyer finishes stunning Bay of Plenty try in quarter-final win

Former All Blacks Sevens flyer Fehi Fineanganofo finished off a try of the season contender when the Bay of Plenty needed it, as the Steamers ran away with a 27-7 win over Tasman Mako in their NPC quarter-final on Saturday afternoon.

After falling painfully short of the NPC title last season, with Callum Harkin nailing a penalty goal in the 93^rd minute to secure Wellington’s second premiership in three years, the Bay returned to the playoffs hoping to go one better.

The Bay finished the 2025 regular season in third place with a 7-3 record, setting up a quarter-final against Tasman at Tauranga Domain. Taman won five of their 10 round-robin matches, losing four of their last five going into finals football.

Mama there goes that man – Fehi Fineanganofo 🤯

📲 Watch LIVE on @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/VAyiDsU4Et

— Bunnings NPC (@BunningsNPC) October 11, 2025

First five-eighth Lucas Cashmore and the Steamers turned down an early opportunity to score the first points of the contest, opting to kick for the sideline in the sixth minute. The Steamers threw everything at the Mako, but the visitors took tall in defence.

Tasman were rewarded for an impressive defence stand, almost taking the lead 12 minutes into the match as they charged into the opposition 22. The Mako building phases but Cole Forbes helped clear the danger, winning a pilfer penalty less than 10 metres out from the try line.

No points were scored until the 25^th minute, when Cashmore got a chance to kick for the posts. Naitoa Ah Kuoi had come close to setting up the opener only moments earlier, but an intercept from David Havili saw play brought back to an earlier advantage.

Down three-nil after a brutal opening quarter, the Mako made their way back to halfway for the restart. First five-eighth William Havili sent the restart into touch on the full, which seemed to fire up both the Steamers are their faithful supporters.

The Bay failed to turn that opportunity into points though. Tasman were the next to strike, with winger Kyren Taumoefolau winning the race to the ball, after David Havili put a clever chip kick ahead of the winger to chase.

Cashmore would have the last point-scoring say of the half, reducing the Steamers’ deficit to a single point with a second penalty goal. 6-7 is how the scoreboard read at the break, setting up a titanic contest in the second term to determine the semi-finalist.

Taumoefolau had an early chance, flying down the left edge for a significant break upfield. The Chiefs recruit ran from inside one 22 to the other, but was bundled into touch about four minutes into the second half.

The Bay regained the lead in the 46^th minute through right winger Kele Lasaqa. Quick hands from the Bay, including a clever flick pass from Cashmore, got the ball to Lasaqa in space, who had enough pace to beat any defenders to the try line.

Fineanganofo added another five points to the Steamers’ lead soon after, finishing off a brilliant attack from deep inside the hosts’ own half. Cashmore beat a few defenders before getting an offload off, before Fineanganofo combined with Forbes to score.

It was one-way traffic from there, with No. 8 Nikora Broughton running more than 50 metres downfield during a stunning break. Broughton was dragged down a couple metres short of the try line, but the drama wasn’t over just yet.

William Havili was sent to the sin bin after an infringement. The Bay had a one-man advantage and decided to go for the scrum, winning a penalty try as they extended their advantage to 20 points – and the scores didn’t change from there.