Ten points in the final five minutes of the match has given the Upper Clutha premier rugby team (The Rams) a last gasp 27-25 win over last year's semi finalists Arrowtown in the Central Otago Premier Rugby Competition.

The Rams were behind on the scoreboard until the last act of the match when first five Brodie Flannery kicked a 30 metre penalty to send the home team and its supporters into raptures.

Just minutes earlier Flannery kicked a sideline conversion after a well-worked try to left wing Viba Eseroma to close the gap to one point (25-24) and the unlikely prospect of a Rams victory.

“The guys really dug in deep and that last five minute effort was just great,” Rams coach Garry-John Hape said.

For much of the match the Rams struggled to gain any ascendancy, spending long periods defending against a relentless wave of big ball runners. When the Rams did have possession it was often static, preventing them forming a platform to attack from.

“Arrowtown’s pack is really clinical and hats off to those guys, they came with a purpose and knocked us around a bit,” Garry-John said.

“In the end it comes down to the character of our guys, we were on the back foot, but they really dug in deep.”

The Rams started the match well, securing a tighthead early and enjoying good field position. It was against the run of play when they found themselves 5-0 down after an intercept try to Arrowtown.

A second Arrowtown try put the Rams down 3-12 at half time which they closed to 10-12 when No. 8 Sam Calder charged over in the 53rd minute. 

An Arrowtown try and two penalties were then traded for a Scott Cunningham try to the Rams to make the score 17-25 with 12 minutes left. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Rams’ Brodie Flannery showed great composure from the kicking tee late in the match while up front lock Lachie Garrick toiled hard alongside loose forwards Ben Carter and Jackson Campbell.

The Rams remain in second place in the premier competition and will play third placed Wakatipu on Saturday 29 May in Queenstown.

This Saturday (22 May) the inaugural Lakes v Central match will be played at Omakau. The Lakes team is selected from Wakatipu, Arrowtown and Upper Clutha with the Central team selected from Cromwell, Alexandra, Matakanui and Maniototo.

Round scores:

Cromwell Cavaliers 5 Cromwell Goats 76

Alexandra 17 Maniototo 22

Wakatipu 43 Matakanui 8

Points table:

PHOTO: Wanaka App