Super 8 Rugby
The beauty of sport is its potential to create incredible storylines.
Rotorua Boys' High School's 34-33 Super 8 win over Napier Boys' High School yesterdaywas a thriller from start to finish.
Despite being down to 13 men at one point and under immense pressure on their own line, Rotorua produced a spirited performance to hold on for the win.
Rotorua got off to a flier in the first half as they ran riot on the left edge.
In the first minute second five-eighth Tom 'Ale made a break down the left-hand side before passing to a man on his inside who drew a defender and found winger Caiza James.
James put a grubber in, which left the Napier fullback stranded, and re gathered to score.
Rotorua showed a willingness to throw the ball around inside their own half and it led to a second try as fullback Selesitino Ravutaumada broke away down the left-hand side.
As he was closed down near halfway he put a perfectly weighted kick in which centre Hayze Perham chased down to score.
While the Rotorua backs were dominating, their forwards had a battle on their hands against a monster Napier pack.
After a slow start, dominance in the scrum and some good metres from the forwards saw Napier began to work their way into the game.
They had their first try after a scrum 5m out.
They had a few cracks at the line before big number eight Lolani Faleiva crashed over
to score.
Rotorua hit back with a third try from their own half and again it was fullback Ravutaumada who entered the line with devastating effect.
He hit a gap from inside his own 22, broke two tackles and raced to the try line faster than a prop to an all you can eat buffet.
Rotorua added another try, this time to winger Kahlil Aldworth-Bidois, and they looked comfortable leading 22-7 at halftime.
Napier came out with new-found enthusiasm in the second half and after a sustained period of pressure flanker Luke Russell bulldozed his way over from close to the try line for his side's second try.
Rotorua wasted no time re-extending their lead as Perham found another gap in the Napier defence.
He summed up the situation perfectly as he drew the Napier fullback and put Ravutaumada over in the corner.
Rotorua led 29-14 with 20 minutes to go and the scene was set for an epic finish.
Napier's forwards continued to show great efficiency at keeping the ball in hand and pounding the Rotorua goal line defence.
After several phases camped inside the Rotorua 22, Russell charged over for his second try and cut the lead to 29-21.
Rotorua were under pressure and their job did not get any easier when prop Daniel Davy was sin-binned for foul play.
Napier scored shortly after, through lock Josh Gimblett and trailed 29-26.
They took the lead when Faleiva scored his second try in a display of pure desire.
Rotorua had the ball on their own line and looked to kick for touch inside their own in-goal, but Faleiva raced up to charge the kick and dive on the ball inches short of the dead ball line.
Trailing 33-29, Rotorua lost another man as Ravutaumada's excellent game was slightly tarnished when he was sent to the sin bin.
However, with minutes left on the clock they took the lead after taking a quick tap inside the Napier 22 and spreading the ball left for James to score another in the corner.
Rotorua led 34-33 and the pressure was on Napier to hold onto the ball and work their way up field.
They did just that and absolutely pummelled the Rotorua try line in search of a winner.
But still Rotorua held them out.
Finally, after being camped on their own line for what felt like an age, Rotorua gave away a penalty about 10m left of the sticks.
Fifteen Napier Boys' High School hands pointed to the posts, unanimously signalling they'd go for goal.
Kickers are often forced into pressure situations and Napier fullback Nikau McGregor must have had the weight of the world on his shoulders as he stepped up to take the kick.
He had kicked brilliantly all day, but in a heart-breaking moment regardless of who you support, the pressure got to him as he fluffed the kick and Rotorua claimed the win.
Rotorua manager Bruce Buckton was pleased with the way his side soaked up pressure and hung in for the win.
"It was a typical Super 8 game, the boys have had a tough run into the end of the term.
"We have high expectations of our side and the key for us is understanding we have a really young side.
"They've shown during the season they can produce those moments, they're a talented young group," Buckton said.
The Super 8 competition takes a two-week break now, for the school holidays.