The Manawatu Cyclones trailed by eight points against the Otago Spirit when a late flurry of tries reversed their fortunes.
Maia Davis exploited a huge hole in the Spirit’s defence, slipping through to score their first try in the final three minutes.
Then came the 80m brilliance. The Cyclones refused to lay down with one last fight, shifting the ball along their try lineout wide.
It landed in the hands of Hollyrae Mete who bolted down the right wing, while Spirit players charged to bring her down, to score and snatch a 31-27 victory from the Spirit at Logan Park on Saturday.
The win kept the Cyclones undefeated season alive — and a nice celebration for captain Selica Winiata’s 100th game — but it was a gutting end for the Spirit, who held the lead for much of the game and constructed some nice tries.
They got on the board first through Keely Hill. She finished off some nice earlier carries from Leah Miles and Eilis Doyle.
The Cyclones hit back when Jashana Te Uawiri scored in the corner.
The visitors looked to be in for another, stringing together phases until Hill intercepted the pass and scored a run-away try.
The Spirit had the better of the middle period and denominated in areas to put the Cyclones under pressure.
They counter-rucked strongly with Manawatu on attack. It ended up in Cheyenne Cunningham’s hands, who put it wide to Te Atawhai Campbell.
She pushed it back inside to Cunningham who ran in a 60m try.
Mete scored for the Cyclones and Jamie Church for the Spirit for the home side to lead 20-12 at the break.
The Cyclones came out of the break strong and took first points through Marilyn Fanoga and trailed by one.
But the Spirit withstood the top-of-the-table team and kept to their structures, putting each other in nice spots and some good touches.
Cunningham drew in four defenders on attack, and pulled it wide to Oceana Campbell.
She then swung it out further for Church who scored in the corner.
That pushed the Spirit to a 27-19 lead but the Cyclones came back from the death to clinch the win.
Farah Palmer Cup
The scores
Manawatu Cyclones 31
Hollyrae Mete 2, Maia Davis, Jashana Te Uawiri, Marilyn Fanoga tries; Selica Winiata 3 con.
Otago Spirit 27
Keely Hill 2, Jamie Church 2, Cheyenne Cunningham tries; Georgia Cormick pen.
Halftime: Spirit 20-21
