Player-of-the-match Olivia Chance eventually sealed the dramatic win in the 114th minute, converting a penalty to complete her hattrick, after the fulltime score was locked at 4-4.
Rovers took the lead in the 13th minute when a brave punched clearance from Three Kings goalkeeper Jo Kennedy was knocked back to Football Fern Sarah McLaughlin who smashed in the opener from just inside the 18 yard box.
Ten minutes later Holly Patterson took two stabs to finish a cross from fellow under-17 international Kate Loye but put the Hamiltonians into a seemingly comfortable 2-0 lead.
A Rosie White header from a well worked corner teed up Three Kings captain Kristy Hill to reduce the deficit after 35 minutes and Hill went close again with a header just before the break, while White and Sarah Gregorius both hit the side netting in the first half.
Chance and Loye both hit the crossbar before Chance netted her first of the match to re-establish Claudelands' two-goal cushion in the 54th minute.
In a second half full of opportunities, Emma Kete hit the post for Three Kings, but White was on target with a pair of classy strikes -- a firmly struck shot from the edge of the area and then a diving header -- to level the scores at 3-3 with just over 15 minutes to play.
Chance, who missed a gift wrapped opportunity to seal the game moments earlier, latched on to a through ball and rounded the advancing Kennedy to put Claudelands back in front in the 75th minute but Emma Kete curled another equaliser into the top corner to restore parity.
A fast finishing Three Kings had their chances to win the match in the final minutes but Claudelands keeper Naomi Beth-Carter was equal to a pair of Kete shots, Chelsey Wood hit one over the bar from close range and impressive Rovers defender Kate Carlton headed a goal-bound corner off the line.
The game was finally decided when Hill, a standout for the Aucklanders despite the score line, brought down Patterson to concede the match-winning penalty and cop a red card for her troubles to leave her side a player short for the last six minutes.
Claudelands coach Dave Edmondson had few nerves in tact at the end of the match.
"Even I was beginning to stop believing after we went two goals ahead twice and threw it away," Edmondson said, "but the girls kept fighting and got the rewards."
NZPA
