A lack of discipline almost cost Pikiao Warriors the chance to continue the dream of snaring their first Waicoa Bay premiership title.
The Mourea-based team managed to hold out a determined and enthusiastic Taupo Phoenix side at Puketawhero Park at the weekend, beating the yellow and blacks 16-14.
Taupo had a chance to send the game into golden point time with a try on fulltime but were unsuccessful with the conversion.
Pikiao coach Selwyn Rikiti said his side were their own worst enemy with Pikiao playing 30 minutes of the match with 12 players.
"A lack of discipline and frustration were the biggest factors. We had three separate players sinbinned at different times during the match and we were lucky to come away with the win.
"I take my hat off to Taupo, they finished stronger than we did but we will take the win and look to our next do or die game against Pacific."
The Rikiti coached side have been riddled with injury to key players and he says he is desperate for the services of exciting halfback Bully Tahuriorangi [leg injury] to help boost the team.
"I talked to him [Saturday night] and he's still not confident. But I've told him we need him, especially next week. So we will see what happens over the next couple of days."
Pikiao hardman Ivor Thomas is another key player who has been told by his doctor his season maybe over after being diagnosed with a heart condition.
"He has made a huge impact this season and he will be a huge loss. It means one of the other boys will need to step up."
Rikiti said leading into the match, he was always confident they had a game plan to counter Taupo's rangy forwards and hard running midfield.
"When we played them last time we targeted the edge. We have plenty of pace out wide and knew if we could get it out there they were vulnerable there."
Both sides were evenly matched with Taupo's young forward pack enthusiastic and keen to take on the much older and more experienced Pikiao pack.
However, the home side were the first to score with smart dummy half running from hooker Andrew Gardiner and stand-off Pirikawana Taiatini effectively running the back line, it gave hard running centre Joe Nuku the chance to score and Reece Hohepa to convert.
Taupo would score before the break thanks to Te Miri Rangi but were unsuccessful with the conversion. The home side went into the break 6-4 up and were soon on the board after the break when Manaaki O'Brien found space out wide for Taiatini to add the conversion to take the score to 12-4. But the Phoenix managed a six-pointer of their own, with captain John Koko scoring the first of his two tries which he managed to convert to bring it within two points.
But with 15 minutes left on the clock Koko may rue the decision not to opt for a kick at goal with the score at 12-10. Pikiao would eventually regain the ball for Gardiner to score but with Taupo finishing stronger and having a try turned down looked to their inspirational leader to score his second.
With time up, Koko's kick looked to be sailing between the post but faded late for it to rub the outside of the post.
Pikiao host Pacific Sharks next week at Puketawhero Park after the Tokoroa side narrowly lost to 30-28 to Hamilton City Tigers.
In other matches in the division, Ngaruawahia won a one-point thriller to Taniwharau 28-27 Otumoetai smashed Hukanui 56-0.
Otumoetai play Taniwharau at Davies Park to decide who will play the Tigers and Sharks and Warriors will playoff to decide who will play Ngaruawahia next weekend.
Scorers:
Pikiao 16 (Joe Nuku, Manaaki O'Brien, Andrew Gardiner tries; Reece Hohepa 1 con, Pirikawana Taiatini 1 con) Taupo 14 (Te Miri Rangi, John Koko 2 tries; John Koko 1 con) Halftime: 6-4.
Results: Pikiao 16 Taupo 14, Pacific 28 Hamilton City Tigers 30, Ngaruawahia 28 Taniwharau 27, Otumoetai 56 Hukanui 0.