Metso Matamata Swifts' run of eleven consecutive league wins came to an end in Taupo on Saturday, but the side still came away from the match with a point that could prove crucial when the Super League title is decided this coming Saturday.

This game had almost everything and was played at a tempo and intensity rarely seen at this level, as would be expected in a match between the 2006 Bay of Plenty and 2006 Waikato champion sides. Right from the start there was a little more bite in the tackles than usual and a touch more venom in the banter between the players.

The home sided shaded the goalless, tightly contested first half. Both teams had legitimate penalty shouts turned down, although Taupo looked the more likely team to open the scoring. Matamata keeper, Gary Darkes, was called upon to make two excellent stops, while he also breathed a little easier after a powerful shot from distance was deflected off Duncan Lowry's shin and on to his cross bar.

Taupo made good use of the fierce gale at their backs during the first half, keeping Matamata under pressure for extended periods. Not long before the break, however, the Swifts were flagged off side after Adam Graham had been put through by Neil Slater, ruining a good goal scoring opportunity. The bizarre thing about this decision was that Graham wasn't actually off side and, indeed, wasn't pulled up for it. The free kick was taken a good thirty yards from where Graham had been, confusing players from both sides. Our theory is that the linesman mistook a sideline fan in a white shirt for a Matamata player and used that opportunity to drop his clanger. Strange but true.

Matamata made good use of the zephyr during the first twenty minutes of the second half. They went ahead in the 53rd minute when Jason Collins followed up a Neil Slater volley, that had been well saved, to net his sixth goal of the season.

At this stage the Swifts had things under control and, while they did look to push for the crucial second goal, they also attepted to lock things up a the back. As the minutes ticked by this policy looked likely to bare fruit, but they couldn't account for a moment of magic by Alan Lamb, Taupo's best player. Lamb squirmed free in the box, after the only Swifts slip-up at the back all day, found an extra yard and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

The equaliser set the match up for a grand stand finish, but things rather fizzled out over the last fifteen minutes. Colin Taylor made things interesting when his pile driver all but knocked out one of Taupo's defenders. As they had already used all their substitutes, this left the home side down to ten men for most of the closing stages. Alberto Romero and Adam Graham both sent in testing angled shots, but saw them well saved.

Best for Matamata was man of the match, Andy Birchenough, in midfield. He was well supported by Jason Collins, used as a battering ram up front, Ged Parkinson at the back and Gary Darkes in goal. Both Swifts full backs, Scott Parsonage and Colin Taylor, put in strong performances.

This result, coupled with Ngongotaha's 3-2 win over Te Awamutu, mean any one of three sides (Taupo, Matamata and Ngongotaha) can win the Super League. The Swifts take on Ngongotaha at home this Saturday and must win to give themselves a chance at the silverware. If that happens they must also home that Taupo don't win by a greater margin in Te Awamutu.

It is certainly an interesting way to end the season.