In a game that seemed to be heading towards a Lawrence win, the home side stole the show in the final play of the game, when substitute halfback Paul Dougherty crashed over for a try, leaving just the conversion to get the win. Second five-eighth Charlie Hore obliged, curling the kick in from outside the right-hand upright. Understandably, Lawrence and its supporters were left gutted about a game that it dominated for the most part.
The first half of the match was a typical struggle for both teams and, in a surprise to many, Lawrence dominated the majority of the first half. The visitors could have gone ahead early in the match but first five-eighth Sam Young missed two penalty attempts from just to the left of the uprights.
He eventually nudged his side ahead with a penalty goal from a similar position after 20 minutes. Four minutes later Young made it 6-0 after converting his second penalty goal, awarded for a Maniototo infringement at ruck time.
Maniototo then managed a short stint with the ball allowing Hore to kick a penalty of his own and then subsequently miss a pair. The home side's only genuine chance for a try in the first half also came from Hore, who followed a high kick only for him to fumble it off a tricky bounce with the line open. The two sides went to the break at 6-all, Lawrence with clearly more possession and territory to its name.
The second half saw Maniototo control the first 20 minutes but it could only manage one scoring chance, a penalty goal which Hore missed.
From there the game turned again and Lawrence was totally dominant.
Substitute forward Owen Ankers got over the line only to be controversially deemed held up, much to the Lawrence coaching staff's disgust. It did not matter, as Young potted two more penalties with just five minutes to play, giving Lawrence a 12-6 lead and what looked to be the winning of the match.
But enter Dougherty from the Maniototo bench who, after a sustained period of pick-and-go play, sniped around the side of the ruck to score, with time up.
It was then left to Hore, who had not had the greatest match with the boot, to calmly slot the conversion, pump his fist, and cement the win.
Hooker Alex Smith was in outstanding form for Lawrence, and lock Aubrey Sheridan, pulled down a mass of lineout ball. For Maniototo, openside flank Nathan Huddleston was in fine form on defence and along with Ryan Dowling, played a key role in winning the match.
