KEY POINTS:
The Bartercard Cup competition may be two weeks from being dead and buried but the commitment shown by Mt Albert and North Harbour in playing out the longest game anyone can remember belied that imminent demise.
The teams were level 40-all at Waitemata Stadium on Saturday when Mt Albert scored in the corner with seconds to go and the hooter sounded as the conversion dropped over the bar.
They played two periods of five minutes extra time, with both teams failing at two field goal attempts, Harbour's second rebounding off the right post as 90 minutes came up.
After a short break they went at it again, time unlimited, first to score.
It took another 17 minutes 16 seconds before Paul Fisiahi got his second try, the game 107 minutes and 16s old when it ended 44-40 to Mt Albert.
As time ran on numerous players were out of the play for periods, flat on their back with trainers straightening their legs or stapled on their fingers and toes as they dealt with cramps.
The ball changed hands numerous times, as the lead had throughout the game. Mistakes followed mistakes as the players drooped with fatigue. But the intensity and pace didn't drop and the fans were on the edge of their seats.
"It was a great game of football, great for rugby league," said beaten coach Ken McIntosh.
"It was a credit to the players, all of them. It's heartbreaking for us but I can't be disappointed."
Harbour get a second life against the Canterbury Bulls, who beat Waitakere 31-18 in Christchurch in the other semifinal, with the winner of that match going on to meet Mt Albert in the grandfinal and last-ever Bartercard game at Mt Smart on September 9.
McIntosh said he'd never seen a game like it. "I could see both teams dropping, it could have gone either way. Mt Albert are a class side, they've known how to win those games because they've been there, done that."
Among those on the sideline were scouts from the Manly and Melbourne NRL clubs who had watched the under-18s curtainraiser. McIntosh believes two of his players are on the verge of securing contracts at the Roosters and others have offers.
"Hopefully players from both teams will get some attention after their efforts," the Harbour coach said.
He and assistant former Kiwis prop Jason Lowrie will take it easy in training this week. "The biggest thing will be getting them back up. They were hurting afterwards so hopefully that will help."
NZRL management could not recall any game at any level that had gone on as long. It is reviewing the rest periods and may issue new refereeing guidelines - no penalties were awarded in overtime despite deterioration in the ruck, the whistler presumably not wanting to decide the game.
"I was getting concerned about the welfare of the players," admitted NZRL competitions manager Kevin Bailey, who has been involved in administration for 30 years.
"I don't remember a game going that long. There was a lot of running in the game - it was full-bore for the first 80 minutes and they didn't let up. "There was no provision for a replay so we had to get a result."
