The Wellington Orcas looked like they had got off the hook.
But the Otago Whalers scored two late tries to seal a dramatic 38-32 win in the capital on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors had been in clear water.
They scored twice after the break to stretch their halftime lead to 28-10. But their defence, which oscillated between bruising and feeble, hit the doldrums.
The Orcas broke the harpoon and roared into the contest with four unanswered tries to snatch a 32-28 lead.
The Whalers resurfaced and this crazy game delivered another twist.
Sailusi Temaka weaved through the defensive line and Mason Lome-Hindle’s conversion from out wide got Otago back in front.
New cap Poyer Reihana-Finau crashed over from dummy half to seal the win.
Everyone in the Whalers camp could breathe again.
It was a clutch win in terms of the competition. But how it almost went so horribly wrong in the final quarter of the game will be a hot topic at training.
There were lots of positives, though.
Ngatokotoru Mateariki scored a brace of tries and now has six in two games this season.
Captain Benjamin Latu hit the line like a tank and his off-loading game kept the Orcas honest.
Fullback Kobe Tuhakaraina was a reliable presence at the back.
But the star was a fellow called Starr — Starr Masae.
The portly halfback engineered a remarkable comeback and set up the bulk of Wellington’s tries.
He combined sensationally with John Wharepapa-Rawiri, who got over the chalk for three tries.
The chunky general shone early. He put in a chip kick on the halfway mark, got a perfect bounce, regathered and his old mate Wharepapa-Rawiri loomed up on his left shoulder to finish off.
Otago responded through Mateariki.
He finished off some good work from Jak Morton, who scooped it up and the quick play of the ball created the extra space he needed.
Winger Saimone Samate slipped through several tackles to give the Whalers a 10-6 lead midway through the half.
Lome-Hindle picked off a pass and ran 90m to score.
And Wellington made a terrible error just before the break. They failed to lay a hand on a bomb and Mavae Manuika’s chase was rewarded with the easiest try he will ever score.
Tofatuimoana Solia barged over in the opening minute of the second half to stretch Otago’s lead to 24-10 and Mateariki nabbed his second.
He had a player outside him but had the muscle and pace to push his way through a half gap.
The game looked over. But Masae provided the spark for the Orcas.
He speared a pass to Wharepapa-Rawiri, who powered over to trim the gap to 12.
The duo teamed up again moments later when Masae burst through a gap, sold a dummy and got the pass to his mate, who showed tremendous determination to finish.
Otago’s defence had noticeably tired.
Wellington pounced with another long-distance try. This time, standoff Denzel Vaitogi crossed.
Masae found another hole out on the right and tore down the flank. Chase Makamaka stayed in support was ruled to have grounded the ball.
The Whalers had been all at sea but were able to reel in the Orcas and land the victory.
You were warned.
NZ Premiership
The scores
Otago 38
Ngatokotoru Mateariki 2, Saimone Samate, Mason Lome-Hindle, Mavae Manuika, Tofatuimoana Solia, Sailusi Temaka, Poyer Reihana-Finau tries; Temaka 2 con, Lome-Hindle con.
Wellington 32
John Wharepapa-Rawiri 3, Josiah Patea, Denzel Vaitogi, Chase Makamaka tries; Starr Masae 4 con.
Halftime: Whalers 20-10.
