Nail biting ending decides game

The decision to forgo a draw and chase the win has come back to bite Waimea Old Boys as they fell just short to Kahurangi.

With the King’s Birthday weekend seeing Friday night footy under the lights at Jubilee Park, the two teams battled to the final whistle in a fantastic display of local club rugby.

The 36-39 win for Kahurangi saw their substitutes rush onto the field to celebrate with their team after the final whistle after a come-from-behind performance.

Playing into a stiff Southerly to start the game, Kahurangi would have been happy to take a five-point deficit, 22-17, into the sheds for half time.

But with the wind easing into the second 40, a late flurry of action saw both teams have their chances to win in a tense final 10 minutes of play.

With Waimea OB ahead 29-22 at the 70-minute mark, Kahurangi would crash over to even up the scoreline after prolonged pressure and possession saw them break through the defence to even the score and set up a grandstand finish.

Kahurangi would then take the lead as they earned a turnover at ruck time and a downfield kick saw a footrace that Waimea OB won but couldn’t find the support to deny another turnover and the try to Thomas Robinson.

Not to be outdone, Waimea Old Boys struck back as Kahurangi looked to clear the kick-off, charging it down as flanker Theo Simone came up with the ball to score next to the posts for a converted try to even it back up again.

With the scoreline even again, both teams were hesitant to concede a game-defining penalty, but Waimea OB was caught just on their side of halfway to set up a 45-metre penalty for  Stewart Cruden to slot it through the posts as the hooter sounded.

But the referee’s watch still had time on it and Waimea managed to earn a penalty of their own for offside.

Thirty metres from the try-line, with a difficult but not impossible angle, Waimea OB decided to kick for touch and go for the win.

But, unfortunately for the home side, a not-straight lineout was their last play of the game as Kahurangi secured the game’s final scrum and kicked the ball to touch.

Having trailed for the majority of the game, Kahurangi’s win may have a big impact on the chase for the Tasman Trophy.

Their lead on the table is now established as their attention turns to Saturday’s result of Marist against Central.

With Stoke also in the hunt and with a bye this weekend, five teams remain in the chase for the four semi-final spots with four weeks of the regular season to play.