Rugby: Mooloos nick it in injury time

Trent Renata of Waikato celebrates after kicking the winning goal during the ITM Cup Semi Final. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland found out the hard way that Waikato are an 85-minute team back in August when they went down 21-18 at Eden Park.

It was a cruel blow for the home side when they conceded a Dwayne Sweeney try with the last play of the game but not as devastating as last night as they conceded another try after the final hooter to see their ITM Cup title aspirations snuffed out.

The Waikato players were delirious as they watched Trent Renata's conversion to a Hikairo Forbes try go over to claim a one-point win. The contrast with the Auckland players was stark. They fell to the ground in agony both physically and emotionally.

It was a classic match in so many ways. It was dramatic, intense, brutal and full of quality play but also some shocking mistakes. The final scrum of the match, with just 23 seconds remaining, was contested under golden-oldie rules because Auckland controversially replaced prop Charlie Faumuina with lock Steven Luatua. Waikato weren't happy, believing they had the sort of dominance at scrum-time that would set them up for one last push. In the end, they still got there.

The lead changed hands six times and was in the balance down to the final play of the game. Waikato pounded away at the Auckland line for four minutes but Auckland's defence held firm until they couldn't hold on any longer when Forbes drove over.

The game still wasn't won then and Renata needed to land the conversion. It wasn't a kick that would normally trouble him, being just to the right of the uprights, but conversions don't usually have seasons riding on them.

Waikato will need to play for more than 80 minutes again when they travel to Christchurch on Friday but they will go there full of confidence. Last night's was their sixth consecutive win and only a week ago they dominated an emotionally drained Canterbury 26-6 in Hamilton.

Auckland will know they could instead be the ones travelling to Christchurch. They held a handy 37-28 lead with 10 minutes to play but Waikato refused to yield. Auckland also should have led at halftime but they were made to pay for some crazy decisions. The worst was made by Toby Morland, who foolishly dished off a pass to winger Dave Thomas from a defensive scrum and Waikato couldn't believe their luck as they drove Thomas into touch 10m out.

It was almost inevitable the visitors would cross and lock Romana Graham drove over from a rolling maul from the lineout.

It was a regrettable moment by Morland and first five-eighths Gareth Anscombe, who would have thumped the ball up the field, was unimpressed with Morland. He wouldn't have been the only one.

On balance, 18-17 was a fair reflection of the match. Auckland shaded the opening 20 minutes, with the forwards playing with controlled aggression and winning a handful of turnovers through counter-rucking.

Waikato were guilty of not committing enough players to the ruck but realised their mistake and once they settled into their work had the better of the second 20 minutes.

They found their rhythm and enjoyed more possession and scored through Sosene Anesi and Waqaniburotu.

They started the second spell in the same manner and extended their lead through Graham.

They might have been surprised how easily they breached Auckland's defence. Auckland had conceded just 200 points - including 16 tries in 13 games - to easily have the best defensive record in the competition. But Waikato had four within the hour as Henry Speight bustled over.

Auckland recovered and replied through Auvasa Faleali'i and Chay Raui to get them in a match-winning position. But a game of rugby is played over 80 minutes - sometimes 82 minutes - and Waikato were the ones left standing.

Auckland 37 (B Stanley, T Morland, A Faleali'I, C Raui tries; G Anscombe 3 cons, 3 pens)

Waikato 38 (S Anesi, R Graham 2, H Speight, H Forbes tries; T Renata 2 pens, 2 cons).

HT: 17-18.