West Taieri started strongly in front of their home crowd and hooker Luke Moeke scored from a lineout drive after five minutes.
This opening gambit seemed to wake the visitors up and they found their way into West Taieri territory.
With Valley hot on attack, West Taieri No8 Conor Lawson was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, and Valley scored out wide through hooker David Matsas.
Both forward packs were trying to outdo each other at the breakdown, and after West Taieri went ahead with a Callum Smeaton penalty, the next 15 minutes were dominated by Clutha Valley.
They played an up-tempo style of rugby which had the West Taieri forward pack struggling to keep up.
The visitors scored next as centre Jonny Sargent crossed under the posts after some fantastic support play. Johnson, uncharacteristically, missed the conversion from right out in front.
Valley scored again through No 8 Damian Wilson, who scythed through numerous defenders.
However, West Taieri’s scrum was beginning to take centre stage, and they were using it as a real weapon.
After several scrum penalties close to the line, Valley tighthead Ieru Teriuea was yellow-carded, and West Taieri used their numerical advantage to score from a pushover through Lawson.
Smeaton’s conversion gave Clutha Valley a 20-17 lead at halftime.
The first 20 minutes of the second half were a battle of attrition in which neither side could get momentum.
West Taieri got in the right areas of the field through their dominant scrum, which led to penalties, but Clutha Valley’s scramble defence was impressive, and they held the home side up over the line several times.
Johnson extended Valley’s lead with a penalty.
With 10 minutes remaining, West Taieri through everything they had at Valley’s line, but they could not turn the pressure into points until they were awarded a penalty with two minutes on the clock.
They opted for a scrum and again scored through Lawson at the back to bring them within a single point with the kick to come. The left-footed Smeaton slotted the conversion, to the delight of the West Taieri faithful.
West Taieri claimed the kickoff and looked to close out the match with some pick-and-goes.
Clutha Valley flanker Liam Turnbull fought his way into the ruck and managed to force a penalty for holding on with time up on the clock.
The kick was 40m out but right in front of the posts. Johnson stepped up and kicked the penalty to give his side the victory.
— Francis Parker
