That is the heartbreak for Matatu, falling 25-24 against Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki game in Christchurch on Saturday.
Matatu had the opportunity to level the game with three minutes to go, when Poua gave away a penalty in front of the posts.
But in a gutsy decision, captain Alana Bremner chose to go for the corner.
The home side used the width of the park, and its tight forwards to propel it forward, and finally got over the line.
But when the try was questionably called held up, Matatu was left to lose by one.
It was a brutal encounter with strong winds forcing the teams to keep the ball in hand for longer periods.
The home team dominated at set piece as Black Ferns prop Amy Rule controlled the scrum.
Matatu got on the board first through flanker Kendra Reynolds. She broke away from her team’s maul after spotting a gap off the back of their lineout.
Poua’s first real opportunity came in the 26th minute.
Matatu was hot on attack when Carys Dallinger intercepted the ball and took off.
The ball shifted through several hands before it was shifted wide for winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga to finish.
That appeared to give Poua players some pep in their step and began to put pressure on Matatu.
Isabella Waterman slotted a penalty for Poua to lead but Matatu hit back twice before the break.
The first came from a lovely team try as flanker Lucy Jenkins, hanging out on the wing, flicked a nice inside ball for Renee Holmes to score.
That was followed by Grace Brooker showing a lovely dummy ball to draw a gap in Poua’s defence and go over under the sticks.
It gave the home side a nice 19-8 buffer at the break.
Poua responded well straight after halftime, winger Stephens Daly scoring on debut.
Matatu looked good when it kept the ball in play and had width across the park, but had big lapses in defence to let Poua back into the game.
The visitors scored twice through Joanah Ngan-Woo and Daly to take a 25-19 lead.
Matatu came back with Holmes — who had an outstanding game — shimmying down the sidelines to score and reduce the gap to one.
In the other game, Chiefs Manawa held off a late surge from the Blues to keep its undefeated record intact, winning 55-33.
Super Rugby Aupiki
The scores
Hurricanes Poua 25
Stephens Daly 2, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Joanah Ngan-Woo tries; Carys Dallinger con, Isabella Waterman pen
Matatū 24
Renee Holmes 2, Kendra Reynolds, Grace Brooker tries; Holmes 2 con
Halftime: Matatū 19-8.
