![](https://clubrugby.nz/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Webp.net-gifmaker.gif")
In the lead-up to the 2023 season, Club Rugby is running a series on social media called Feverish Finishes.
A look at some of the many crazy finishes and roaring comebacks in Wellington club rugby in recent years – of which there have been many.
These will also be posted here in a 3-4 part series – plus a handful of other ones not going up on social media re-posted an article posted on our ‘old’ website several years ago called Sizzling Comebacks.
+++++
Petone and Rams win at the death on same afternoon
+++++
12 May 2007 – Roosters stun Avalon in final five minutes
With five minutes to play Avalon had seemingly grasped their third win in seven matches of the 2007 Swindale Shield. Avalon had scored two long-range tries and led 17-7 with time almost up. But the Roosters had other ideas, embarking on a late scoring spree and winning 20-17 in an extra-time thriller. Wests fullback Toby Robson couldn’t have scripted a better finish, potting the winning dropped goal in the dying seconds, after the Roosters had struck with two late unconverted tries. Robson and replacement first five-eighth Naoya Nomura both created chances to win but the former’s penalty hit the posts and the latter’s injury time conversion sailed wide and a draw seemed the likely result at that point. Wests made one final surge and Robson positioned himself in the pocket and nailed his dropped kick. The ramifications of this match were that Wests snuck into the top eight and made the Jubilee Cup round and Avalon lost their next four straight and were assigned to the Hardham Cup for the remainder of the season.
+++++
Petone edge MSP in semi-final
Rewind to 2007. Home team Petone produced arguably the comeback of the 2007 club rugby season to secure their spot in the following weekend’s Jubilee Cup semi-finals, beating top qualifier Marist St. Pat’s 39-34 with the last play of the game.
Petone fullback Tu Umaga-Marshall provided the final pass and wing Willie Moala scored the try in the right corner to break a 34-34 deadlock and complete a blockbuster win.
Petone had trailed 26-8 at halftime but proceeded to score 18 unanswered points. Petone couldn’t recreate this magic in the following week’s semi-final against MSP, who won playoff 24-23 in another thriller in which the lead changed hands four times in the second half. MSP went on to lose to Hutt Old Boys Marist 10-18 in the final, after HOBM had dealt Northern United their first loss at home at Porirua Park in three years in the other semi-final.
Feverish Finishes 002. When @PetoneRugby came back from 26-8 at halftime to draw level 34-34 with @msprugby and then scored a last play try to win 39-34. MSP would turn the tables in their next week’s semi-final, winning 24-23.#communityrugby2023 pic.twitter.com/S75s91DzRa
— ClubRugby (@ClubRugby) January 20, 2023
+++++
Fulltime try for Ories over Norths in 2018
Ories beat Norths 37-33 in the penultimate round of the 2018 Jubilee Cup. Midfielder Alex Ropeti scored to propel Ories into their seventh Jubilee Cup semi-final in the past eight years, and end Norths’ then winning streak at 13. Down 33-30, and deep into referee’s time, Ropeti charged at opposite Kienan Higgins from a scrum. Higgins appeared to have restrained the Ories second-five, but a second surge of momentum powered Ropeti over. Earlier Norths burst out to a 26-8 lead on the back of two tries for Higgins. Ories rallied and a Ropeti intercept nudged the visitors ahead 27-26. Ories would miss out to eventual champions OBU in their semi-final, whilst Norths would be HOBM. OBU took the final out 37-31.
+++++
2018 Paul Potiki Shield Final.
The 2018 U85kg Final. One of the last club games of the year and played out by players well away from the Premier spotlight. For sheer drama you couldn’t beat the Under 85kg Final for the Paul Potiki Shield between the Avalon Wolves and the Upper Hutt Rams on a boggy Fraser Park #3. The Wolves led 10-3 with time almost up only for the Rams to send it to extra-time with an 80th minute converted try, and then repeat that in the 99th to win it and deny Avalon an unbeaten season.
+++++
Late Misipalauni Moananu try stuns HOBM
A last-ditch try to Poneke captain and No 8 Misipalauni Moananu snatched a stunning victory for his side over Hutt Old Boys Marist in a heart-stopper at the Hutt Recreation Ground on 5 July 2009. Moananu scored off the back of a scrum in the 78th minute and first five-eighth Sam Rasch added the conversion to give Poneke a 31-29 victory – sending them on their way to qualifying top for the 2009 Jubilee Cup playoffs while effectively shutting the 2007 champions out of semi-final contention. All the more painful for HOBM’s home supporters was the manner of defeat. Poneke had come right back into contention after the Eagles had scored four tries, including two to centre Reuben Colquhoun, and led 29-12 at halftime.
