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Sydney: New Zealand Maori won the Pacific Nations Cup when flanker Thomas Waldrom scored with three minutes to go to beat Australia A 21-18 in the tournament's final round on Sunday.
Australia A were leading 18-14 with the clock winding down when Waldron crossed to break the hearts of the Australians, who only needed a draw to clinch the title.
Mark Gerrard then had the chance to tie the game right on fulltime but a 45-metre penalty attempt fell just short.
The win left New Zealand Maori on 21 points just one ahead of Australia A. Samoa beat Japan 37-31 on Saturday to leapfrog Fiji into third, with Japan finishing fifth and Tonga sixth.
Australia A led early thanks to a converted try by centre Timana Tahu, but trailed 14-7 at the break after tries from Jacob Ellison and Tanerau Latimer.
However, two penalties to Gerrard and a second try to Tahu gave the home team an 18-14 lead until Waldrom's converted try put the Maori ahead.
Character tribute
Relieved New Zealand Maori coach Donny Stevenson paid tribute to his side's character, although he said they were often their own worst enemies.
"In the end we had some experienced guys to get us through but we didn't make it easy for ourselves, we were really scrambling at the end," he said.
"We thought if we could put some phases together the opportunities would come but we lost the ball at critical times. I was concerned at some of the decision making."
In other matches played Saturday, Tonga got their first win of the competition when they upset Fiji 27-16 in Nuku'alofa and Samoa held off a determined Japan in Apia.
The Tongans had been disappointing throughout the tournament, losing all four matches so far.
However, in the three years of the Pacific Nations Cup they have never lost to Fiji and were able to keep that record intact thanks to an impressive effort from their forward pack, who overpowered the Fijians in the second half.
Samoa were lucky to escape with a win against an improving Japanese side, who picked up two bonus points for finishing within seven points and scoring four tries.
The Japanese thought they had won a thrilling encounter when Christian Loamanu seemed to have scored Japan's fifth try in the third minute of injury time.
The touch judge, however, spotted Loamanu's foot on the sideline and Japan's joy turned to disappointment.
Japan coach John Kirwan said. "We have begun to give countries in the Pacific Nations Cup competitive games.
"This confirms without a doubt that we are improving."
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