Skipper and No.8 Campbell Chrisp led the rally call as Jones prepared to convert Tata’s try.
“We’ve got five minutes to play so let’s get back down their end, get possession and win this game,” said Chrisp, who scored one of his side’s four tries.
Chrisp, younger brother Alex, winger Karl Macpherson and Richardson were all involved in the match-winning try as the Green Machine camped inside the OBM 22 after securing possession from the restart.
Only desperate defence from OBM kept Ngatapa from scoring in the left corner.
Openside flanker Paddy Allen, who had another magnificent game, was then denied what would have been a deserved try by a superb tackle from OBM blindside flanker Lyndon Manuel in the right corner.
But Ngatapa would not be denied, and when Seymour crossed the line it was left to Richardson to cap the comeback.
A thoroughly deserved win“They thoroughly deserved to win,” OBM coach Stu Blair said. “They dominated possession and territory for most of the game. We weren’t in the game for 65 to 70 minutes. Our set pieces — which have been good — didn’t function.”
Blair poured cold water on the suggestion OBM missed star openside flanker James Grogan, who left the field with a knee injury after eight minutes.
“James is a good player but one man doesn’t make a team,” Blair said. “On the credit side, we didn’t play well and came within two points of them.”
Although on the losing team, Manuel, left-winger George Halley and No.8 James Rutene played well.
Faulks said he was proud of the resolve shown by his players.
“They could have dropped their heads after going behind but didn’t. We regained the lead then closed it out.
“OBM are a good team and to win three on the trot after losing the first five says a lot about the character in the team.
“We’ve got High School Old Boys on Saturday and that’s going to be another big challenge. But at this stage it’s onwards and upwards for us.”
Competition leaders HSOB are the team to beat but on this performance Ngatapa will give them a tough game.
McKinley opens scoringOBM fullback Scott McKinley opened the scoring with a try following good interchange play with Halley after 15 minutes. Instead of trying to run over their markers, they reverted to classic draw-and-pass play, leaving two would-be tacklers stranded before McKinley dotted down between the posts.
Ngatapa hit back with tries from Chrisp and lock Semisi Akana.
Macpherson then brought the home fans to their feet when he pounced on a loose ball 55 metres from the tryline and 10 metres in from the left wing. He pinned back his ears and scored to give Ngatapa an 18-8 lead at the break.
Despite playing with the wind at their backs for the second half, Ngatapa failed to add to their points until those last five dramatic minutes.
While the Ngatapa forwards laid the platform for the victory, more worrying for their premier rivals was the improving form and growing confidence of their backline, in which newcomer Seddon Smith impressed at second five-eighth.
HSOB lead the competition on 33 points, OBM are on 26, YMP 22, Ngatapa 19, Waikohu 14 and Pirates 4.
NGATAPA 26 (Campbell Chrisp, Semisi Akana, Karl Macpherson, Henry Seymour tries; Chris Richardson con).
OBM 24 (Scott McKinley, Jale Tiko, Robert Tata tries; John Jones 3 con).
HT: 18-8 (Ngatapa).
