It was a playoff too many for the Wanganui High School 1st XV after another comeback was thwarted by a Wairarapa College penalty kick with time up on the clock in their Hurricanes Co-ed final at Arena Park on Saturday, losing 16-13.
Having won the Manawatu Premier 1 title the weekend before by coming from behind against Palmerston North Boys' High School, WHS were again down at halftime 13-5, with 15-year-old Vilimoni Koroi having scored their try in the corner.
Sam Malcolm landed a long range penalty and then the suggested player of the day Jesse Taupau scored a try with 15 minutes to go to tie the scores 13-13.
However, after a stalemate, Wairarapa College got the penalty whistle within an easy kickable distance to claim the Hurricanes title.
They will now move onto the semifinals of the Super Rugby Franchise Co-ed competition in Rotorua against the winning schools from the Chiefs, Crusaders and Blues regions.