Rival Fijian wingers scored contrasting tries as the Marist-Nelson Tasman Trophy Div 1 match went right down to the wire with Marist winning 48-45.
Solo Gukirewa dived over in the corner as Nelson edged ahead 45-41 in Saturday's top of the table clash at Trafalgar Park with under five minutes to play.
But infringements hurt Nelson and, with time almost up, Marist kicked for the line, captain Tom Thornalley hauled in the throw and in the mass of bodies surging for the line, Filimone Kama scored the matchwinner.
The 22-year-old had started on the wing but injuries to Wil Thornalley and his replacement, saw Fili prove a super super sub.
“At training during the week, they told me I was the back up back up halfback,” says Fili, who had also scored a try in the first half.
“I thought our reserve hooker Bede Dodd-Edgar scored the try but then I saw him pop up the ball and I just grabbed it and planted it.”
That was his eighth try of the season and easily the shortest way to the goal line.
Earlier Marist, whose 10-match unbeaten run ended last week, raced in three tries through centre Jarel Hemehema, Fili and No.8 Joseph Domoni.
But Nelson then hit back with five unanswered tries to captain and first five Fletcher Hewitt-Smart, two to wing Adam Schwass and one each to loose forwards Bill Tuwai and Matt Lowe.
Matt made a timely return from injury to replace Kobe Brownlee who is off to the Junior World Rugby Championship in Georgia.
Joseph’s second try and a sideline conversion from Luke Kilworth got Marist back to within two points and hard-charging hooker Dylan Irvine then restored the lead.
It was short-lived though,as Fletcher darted away for his double, and Nelson went 40-38 up.
Luke’s second penalty goal got the hosts back in front but some backline razzle dazzle saw the lead change again. Replacement back Izaiah Kamana flicked a pass behind his back to Fletcher who skirted wide and linked with Solo to score in the corner.
But Fili had the last say as the defending Tasman Trophy champions got up 48-45 in the 13 try thriller and secured the top qualifying spot for the play-offs with a round to play.
“Just a little bit of ill-discipline cost us. The boys haven’t been in those moments too often in the last couple of years so we just have to take it as a learning experience,” rues Fletcher.
His side stays in second spot as Central, which was thumped last week in Blenheim, stormed home to upset Waimea 47-38 at Jubilee Park.
Waimea had been leading 38-0, with lock Sio Latu scoring two tries in his 50thmatch.
But poor game management led to the shock collapse and saw the hosts lose the John Goodman Challenge Trophy just a week after finally winning it for the first time.
No drama for Stoke though with South African fullback Anru Erasmus scoring the first and last of its eight tries in the 50-5 romp against Kahurangi at Greenmeadows.
Stoke’s second consecutive win of the season lifted it off the bottom of the table past Kahurangi.
Points table: Marist 42, Nelson 30, Waimea 30, Central 26, Stoke 13 and Kahurangi 12.
