The ACT Brumbies have secured a Super Rugby Pacific home play-off final after a last-minute penalty try ensured a gutsy 31-24 win over the Crusaders at GIO Stadium in Canberra.
The game seemed set to end level until Quinten Strange conceded a penalty try in the last minute. The Crusaders lock intentionally knocked back a loose ball after Noah Lolesio's side-line penalty goal attempt struck the upright.
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The home side cemented third place with their win on Saturday - their first against their old rivals in 15 years.
The Brumbies' defence was mostly steadfast against a determined Crusaders attack, which dominated territory for large stretches of the match.
But coach Steven Larkham will be concerned that his side let the opposition level the match late after leading from the 11th minute.
The Brumbies had a 10-point buffer coming out from halftime but a Noah Hotham try with 12 minutes left and a penalty kick from Chay Fihaki let the visitors level the scores.
It was an all-too-familiar feeling for the Crusaders, who have looked competitive throughout the season but remain second-bottom after just two wins.
The Brumbies took the ascendancy after a forward pass denied Sevuloni Reece an early opening try for the Crusaders.
The home side's dominant forward pack picked and drove their way irresistibly towards the tryline before Noah Lolesio lifted his head and found Andy Muirhead all alone on the right wing with a cross-field bomb to open the scoring.
Soon after Brumbies fullback Tom Wright found himself one-on-one with Crusaders five-eighth Fergus Burke, who he left in his wake with a disdainful don't argue on his way to the tryline.
But the Crusaders got themselves back into the game after Tamati Tua was sent to the bin for a high shot on Jone Rova.
Crusaders fullback Johnny McNicholl made the most of the numerical advantage to get his side on the board with an overload on the left flank.
Wright scored his second of the night before Reece caught the Brumbies defence napping to scamper through for the first try after the break.
No.8 Rob Valetini went over in the second half to extend the Brumbies lead before the chaotic finish.
The win secures a home play-off final for the Brumbies after the fifth-placed Reds were beaten 29-18 by the Fijian Drua in Suva earlier on Saturday.
Tries: Muirhead, Wright 2, Valetini, Penalty Try
Cons: Lolesio 2/4
Tries: McNicholl, Reece, Hotham
Cons: Burke 3/3
Pens: Fihaki 1/1
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Connal McInerney, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Nick Frost, Jahrome Brown, Rob Valetini, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Ollie Sapsford, Tamati Tua, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
RESERVES: Liam Bowron, Rhys van Nek, Sosefo Kautai, Tom Hooper, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Ben O'Donnell
CRUSADERS (1-15): Joe Moody, Codie Taylor (c), Fletcher Newell, Antonio Shalfoon, Quinten Strange, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Fergus Burke, Sevu Reece, David Havili, Jone Rova, Chay Fihaki, Johnny McNicholl
RESERVES: George Bell, George Bower, Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah, Dom Gardiner, Mitch Drummond, Taha Kemara, Taine Robinson
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
