Many of the Wakatipu players and supporters threw their hands in the air, certain the White Horse Trophy had been retained, when first-five Logan Beggs scrambled the ball into touch deep inside his 22, his team ahead 22-20 after a frenetic contest.
The Queenstown Rec scoreboard clock showed time was up. All that was required, surely, was for the referee to blow for no side.
However, the referee declared there were still five seconds to play. Time for one more lineout.
The Maniototo Maggots suddenly realised they had a last chance to redeem themselves, having horribly messed up their four previous lineout throws.
Not surprisingly, skipper Willie Miller - who will captain Central in next weekend's Topp Cup clash with Southern - called for the ball to be thrown to him.
His fellow Maggots knew the drill. The moment Miller secured the ball, teammates came from everywhere, 10 or 11 of them joining the drive that overwhelmed the Wakatipu defenders.
As they surged across the goalline, Dean Chalmers, who had started the day on the reserves bench, got the touchdown. Game, set, match and White Horse Trophy to Maniototo.
It was a cruel outcome for Wakatipu, which had lost four players injured in the first half - fullback Chris Young, threequarters Rube Peina and Kapa Moeke and hooker Tom Gray - forcing halfback Xavier Sadler to play the last 50 minutes on the wing.
The home side was five seconds away from glory.
Maniototo unquestionably ranks as the competition's most improved team, having lost to Wakatipu 29-5 in the first game of the season. Since then the side has picked up key players from Matakanui-Combined and developed into a formidable opponent.
Coach Thomas Huddlestone said it was determined to take the game to Wakatipu.
After an enterprising start, it led 8-0 and were still ahead 14-12 at halftime.
A second try to replacement halfback Scott Cowan after a surprise tighthead - a surprise because Maniototo had the stronger scrum - put Wakatipu ahead 19-14.
But Maniototo would not lie down. Logan Bain kicked two more penalty goals, giving him five for the game, to make the score 20-19.
Beggs made it 22-20 to Wakatipu in the 63rd minute, and that is how it stayed till the frenzied final few seconds.
It was Maniototo's first White Horse Trophy success in four years.
Upper Clutha now leads the competition after a thrilling 29-26 victory over Cromwell Goats at Tarras. In the first round it won 36-24.
Accurate goalkicking from Brodie Flannery and tries from subs Fergus Smith and Reece Te Pari had Upper Clutha shoot out to 29-19 before the Goats salvaged a bonus point with a last-minute try.
Alexandra overran Cromwell Cavaliers in the second half at Molyneux Park, coming from 17-10 down at halftime to win 35-17.
- Bob Howitt