The Citizens Shield frontrunners were down by one — in the top of the table clash — as the clock ticked past 80 minutes. Valley were chipping away at the Maheno defence when they won a penalty just past halfway.
Clunie calmly strolled to the front and lined up the shot, which was on the money.
The 34-32 win kept Valley the only unbeaten team in North Otago this season.
Earlier, Maheno jumped out to an early 8-7 lead off the back of the McCarthy brothers.
Sam scored a try and Ben added a penalty in the opening 20 minutes to have the home side in front.
Valley then struck back with a contentious try.
Hot on attack in the Maheno 22m, Clunie spun the ball wide and a Valley dummy runner collided with a Maheno defender.
Joji Rinakama crossed the line and the ref deemed it legal to put Valley in front.
Maheno snatched back the lead just before halftime as Sam McCarthy bagged his second.
He danced through at least three would-be tacklers on his way to crossing the line.
The lead did not last long as Valley scored again through Ratu Epeli Tuiradamu to open the second half.
Ben Paton then scored a nice individual try — his second of the day — to extend the lead for Valley.
Just as it looked like the men from Weston were about to pull away, Maheno struck back as Lachie Kingan scored with two Valley defenders unable to bring him down.
Rinakama scored his second try not long after before an opportunistic Sam McCarthy completed his hat-trick.
Valley tried to play with the ball in their own 22m, but spilled it right into McCarthy’s hands as he strolled over untouched.
Maheno had all the momentum late as they won a penalty which Ben McCarthy banged over to put them in front with under five minutes to play.
Kurow also got an important win over Athletic Marist in Oamaru.
They kept Athies scoreless in the first half and were able to withstand a second half comeback to get the win 21-19.
Excelsior dispatched Old Boys 46-12 in the final game of the round.
Holding a narrow five-point lead at the break, the defending champs scored 29 unanswered points in the second half to run away with the win in Oamaru.
