One small stumble led to a big fall down the championship ladder for the Wairarapa-Bush rugby team at the weekend.
The repercussions of their second loss in this year's National Provincial Championship underline just how keenly contested the division is.
Their 20-33 loss to 1999 champions East Coast in Ruatoria sawWairarapa-Bush slide from first to fourth in the standings.
They now find themselves behind Poverty Bay, who had two players sent off during their 37-13 win over Horowhenua-Kapiti in Gisborne, North Otago and East Coast.
With only two rounds remaining before the semifinals, Poverty Bay are in front on 22 points, followed by North Otago and East Coast on 21, Wairarapa-Bush remain on 19 and South Canterbury on 16.
Below them and now without any realistic hope of qualifying for the playoffs are Horowhenua-Kapiti on 12, while struggling South Island neighbours Bullerand West Coast are marooned on four points each and can just look on from afar.
East Coast had to dig deep to break down the Wairarapa-Bush resistance, and it was not until the closing 20 minutes that they sealed their win, with two late tries and 13 points from goalkicker Mano Flutey instrumental in them keeping afloat their title aspirations.
Gisborne was the venue of extraordinary scenes as North Harbour referee Greg Watson sent three players from the field in a niggly match.
Despite playing with depleted numbers, Poverty Bay overcame their 8-13 halftime deficit to score five tries in the second spell.
North Otago powered into the top three by overpowering a lacklustre West Coast side 52-23 in Greymouth.
No 8 Regan Laughton had an outstanding match for North Otago, who scored nine tries, including two each to Simon Porter and Dean Paterson, after leading 30-16 at halftime.
The erratic South Canterbury side revealed better form to beat Buller 37-10 in Westport.
Enjoying the lion's share of possession, South Canterbury converted that into pressure and five tries.
