Taranaki 33
Waikato 23
Waikato almost pulled off the great escape, Taranaki came close to a giant choke, but in the end this pulsating match will be remembered for a decision that sent two home players to the sin bin just as it seemed they would catch the visitors.
The visitors had pulled away to a seemingly safe 30-9 lead before the home side came roaring back to within seven points with 20 minutes remaining and the fate of the Ryan Wheeler Memorial Trophy was in the balance.
Perhaps frustrated by Taranaki's sudden impotence, hooker Laurence Corlett threw a punch that caught All Black Liam Messam. When Corlett threw a second, Messam retaliated.
A one-on-one scrap might have been allowed to pass without intervention, but the critical moment came when Romana Graham joined the fray at the same time as the linesman woke up to what was happening.
The sight of two Waikato forwards pummelling the lone Corlett was enough for him to recommend them both be sanctioned with yellow cards much to the disbelief of the home side.
Still, Waikato defended heroically and still had their chances to at least snatch a draw, but that 10-minute period with six forwards sapped their strength. When Beauden Barratt kicked a penalty after the hooter to deny the hosts even the scant consolation of a bonus point, it must have tasted like the bitterest pill.
"They were chasing the game, they upped the tempo and it worked for them," Taranaki skipper Craig Clarke said, trying to explain away Waikato's improbable comeback.
They will be cursing the officials down Mooloo way, but it would be remiss to blame them for the hole they found themselves in.
Taranaki made the brighter start and were, for most of the match, the better side.
A brilliant individual try to Andre Taylor, a candidate for man of the match, was followed by a neat offload by the same player that saw Kurt Baker cross.
All Waikato had in reply was three penalties off the boot of Trent Renata, who has put his week one kicking woes well and truly behind him.
The second half started the same way as the first finished, with Taranaki dominating possession and Waikato missing tackles, but once Willie Ripia had added three to his bag of points they took their foot off the pedal.
Dwayne Sweeney was denied a try when the linesman ruled Save Tokula had gone out. As it was Sweeney may have been in touch as he dotted down, but it was a poor piece of work by the official that balanced another wrong decision in the first half when Tyson Keats was denied what looked like a certain try.
Romana Graham crashed over soon after, Tokula followed soon after and suddenly the wind was filling the Waikato spinnaker. Step forward Corlett.
