The Heartland Championship clash was tied 35-35 at the end of regular time, and that looked to be the way it would stay.
But as Mid Canterbury and North Otago players went to shake hands, referee Jackson Henshaw declared the match would go to golden point — leaving some players looking bewildered — and gathered the captains to get the game back under way.
North Otago was caught off guard, and within the first few minutes of extra time, Mid Canterbury was away when big lock Logan Bonnington pushed over the line to secure a 40-35 victory for the Hammers.
The Old Golds will be ruing letting Mid Canterbury back in to the game after clawing their way back from being down 20-5 at the break.
It was a historic occasion as North Otago rugby took a home game to Kurow.
The home team got off to a flying start when winger Mone Samate scored in the corner to lead 5-0 after three minutes.
But from there, the Old Golds were caught sleeping, with lapses in defence leaving holes that Mid Canterbury winger Raitube Vasurakuta exploited to shift his team up the field.
Tom Reekie had a strong kicking game, and landed two early penalties to lead 6-5.
After scoring five minutes earlier, Isireli Masiwini ran on to a lovely chip from Reekie, to take his team to a 20-5 lead.
Old Golds first five Josh Robertson-Weepu’s injury woes seemed to continue when he hobbled off the field, and former Highlanders captain Nasi Manu also pulled up injured for Mid Canterbury.
The home team was much better in the second half, when prop Kelepi Funaki scored early and a Josh Phipps conversion and penalty clawed it back to within five. Samate then snaffled a great intercept try to take the lead, 22-20.
But Mid Canterbury fired back quickly, Manasa Samo dodging tackles to score and a Reekie penalty putting his team into a 30-22 lead.
A Phipps penalty made it 30-25.
Then the Old Golds all piled in — backs and all — to for a big rolling maul, and replacement lock Epineri Logavatu was awarded the try.
Phipps converted and added another a penalty for a 35-30 lead, and it looked North Otago had staged a comeback victory.
But Mid Canterbury would not go away and scored right at the end to make it 35-35.
It then went to golden point in which North Otago’s Hanan Shield rival took the spoils.
Heartland Championship
The scores
Mid Canterbury 40
Isireli Masiwini 2, Manasa Samo, Henry McManus, Logan Bonnington tries; Tom Reekie 3 con, 2 pen
North Otago 35
Mone Samate 2, Kelepi Funaki, Epineri Logavatu tries; Josh Phipps 3 con, 3 pen
Halftime: Mid Canterbury 20-5.
