Northland 33
Waikato 45
Northland can really have no complaints about their inability to make the top seven because they have been the architects of their own downfall.
The Taniwha have thrilled this season - there are few better sides to watch for their expressive approach - but they have let too many games slip through their grasp.
Yesterday against Waikato, they had all of the running. They dominated both territory and possession but gifted Waikato at least three of their five tries. Nothing like being generous hosts.
It means Northland's flirtation with the top seven is effectively over. They needed to win yesterday to keep their hopes alive with three games remaining and, while they were the better side for long periods, they lacked a cutting edge. It's been that way all season.
They will now reflect on three narrow defeats to North Harbour, Wellington and Canterbury - games they could and should have won - and look jealously up the table to a position they could have been occupying.
"We placed a lot of importance on this game in terms of our top seven aspirations," Northland captain Jared Payne said. "We knew it was getting close to that make-or-break point because we had had so many of those close ones. We would always say there was next week but we might be at the stage of the season where there's not going to be a next week. We are just going to have to scrap for points in the next three games and hope other results go our way so we can sneak into that top seven.
"It's emotionally draining. It's tough on the boys and it's hard to get yourself back up again but we've got nothing to lose and everything to gain now.
"Often when I have played for Northland we have played our best when we've had nothing to lose. It could be an exciting final few weeks."
Yesterday was another absorbing match. Waikato scored inside 90 seconds, when centre Save Tokula crossed, and both sides had scored two tries each inside the first 15 minutes. Northland's first will be one the Waikato players won't want to see again.
They assumed Northland would kick a straightforward penalty and started gathering under the bar but watched in horror as David Holwell tapped and sent Mateo Malupo over in the corner.
It was about the only time they switched off. They absorbed everything Northland threw at them and then fed off the scraps. When they gained possession, they were ruthless, and they all came from long range or fluid backline moves.
The only worrying aspect was the sight of Brendon Leonard being stretchered off in the 65th minute. The former All Blacks halfback was heavily concussed after a collision with Lachie Munro and his team-mates don't expect to see him back on the field for some time.
"When he left the field, he was still pretty groggy," Waikato captain Nathan White said.
"I think it's pretty nasty for him and he wasn't too sure where he was when he left the field. I guess that's going to take some time and to lose someone of Brendon's calibre for the next few weeks is going to be a big loss for us."
Leonard had been building into this campaign nicely - he scored two tries yesterday - and his form symbolises Waikato's. They haven't always played well this season but they are finding momentum at the right time of the season. Yesterday's win was their fourth in their last six games to propel them up to third on the table.
"We are winning games and at his end of the season that's what we need," coach Chris Gibbes said. "We are getting better in certain areas of our game and that's what we have been striving to do so that's been pleasing."
One area still causing concern is lineouts and yesterday they lost three of their own throws and two others weren't straight. Although not all of the blame can be placed on hooker Aled de Malmanche, it is an area of his game that needs significant improvement.
But at least they will be able to do it at least in the comfort of the top seven. For Northland, that dream is now over.
Northland 33 (M. Malupo, L.Munro, C. Eyre, M. Tuu'u, D. Budd tries; Munro 2 pens, con) Waikato 45 (B. Leonard 2, S. Takula, H. Speight, S. Donald tries; Donald 4 cons, 4 pens). HT: 20-22.
